As sterile processing professionals, we crave challenging and meaningful work- why else would we be doing this? We want to learn, grow and contribute to our departments and healthcare facilities and connecting with other professionals plays a critical role in being able to do just that! In this episode we talk with Lindsay Brown to discuss the ways in which peer-to-peer and peer-to-mentor connection opens the door to new opportunities. She discusses the importance of professional and personal gr...
Nov 18, 2019•39 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Do we have a global surgical instrument quality crisis before us? Have you seen the data, and just as importantly, what would you do about it if you have? Leveraging data in healthcare is one of the most efficient ways to perpetuate improvement and change, but we are still on the cusp of seeing the full value to that data has to offer the Sterile Processing industry. We talked to Bryan Stuart and Jay Schrader about the actual numbers that help uncover the invisible surgical crisis that exists in...
Nov 11, 2019•37 min•Season 6Ep. 7
In healthcare, one of the best ways to be compliant is to be confidently compliant. Compliance with The Joint Commission's standards on infection control can be difficult to navigate and in this release of the Beyond Clean Vendor Spotlight series, we talk to Eric Einwalter, Sr. Product Manager, High Level Disinfection for CIVCO Medical Solutions, to learn how CIVCO products strengthen and empower SPD professionals by providing solutions for an easy and compliant disinfection process of ultrasoun...
Nov 08, 2019•26 min
Ultrasound probes are used in almost every department in healthcare today and reprocessing breeches have led to safety alerts issued by The Joint Commission in recent years. We sat down with Emily Smith, Clinical Marketing Specialist with CIVCO Medical Solutions, to discuss tangible solutions to the issues surrounding the reprocessing of ultrasound probes facing up to 75% of facilities. What do you need to know about reprocessing ultrasound probes and how can sterile processing professionals est...
Nov 04, 2019•29 min•Season 6Ep. 6
What if the one thing standing between an endoscope and a safe outcome is the acknowledgement that antibiotics have been involved in one of the deadliest cover-ups on earth? It’s no secret that flexible endoscopes pose a safety risk. In fact, mishandled flexible endoscopes have been identified in ECRI’s Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2019 and have led to infectious outbreaks and death. Is sterilization of flexible endoscopes the ultimate solution or is there another option? We talk to Dr. ...
Oct 28, 2019•41 min•Season 6Ep. 5
On the coast of Africa, standing on the deck of a Mercy Ship hospital, one individual looked out on the horizon as thousands of people lined up to receive medical care. It was a transformative moment; A moment that would be the genesis for the creation of the Safe Surgery Initiative (SSI). We sat down and talked with Keith Miles, Executive Director of SSI. Mr. Miles who is on a mission to change the world by providing safe refurbished instrumentation to hospitals in low-to-middle income countrie...
Oct 21, 2019•35 min•Season 6Ep. 4
In Sterile Processing departments surrounded on all sides by stainless steel, color tends to jump out at us. Whether it's a green handle on an insertion device, a red knee trial, or purple implant plating system, it's not uncommon to see little splashes of color in a number of different instrument trays. We sat down with Thor Rollins to have a crash course on medical device colorants, and talk about reasons for and risks of coloration on our surgical instrumentation. Can color additives cause ha...
Oct 14, 2019•31 min•Season 6Ep. 3
With the medical device world around us changing on a daily basis, why shouldn't we expect our Sterile Processing staffing technologies to change with it? On Episode 2, Season 6 of Beyond Clean, we talk with Brian Reed about predictive staffing in CS/SPD and discuss how data can be leveraged to make staffing decisions for your department that are more than just a good guess. Tune in to hear about how this innovative concept could change the way you approach the challenge of growing surgical volu...
Oct 07, 2019•35 min•Season 6Ep. 2
On this week's episode, Bob goes into more detail regarding the importance of collaboration with instrument manufacturers and repair specialists in developing high quality inspection programs in your Sterile Processing department. Tune in for insight and encouragement to #WorkTogetherForChange . #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Oct 02, 2019•6 min
How many of your departments have an Instrument Coordinator position? How many of you want one? And how many of you have no idea what we're talking about? On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank makes an argument for creating a role on your Sterile Processing team whose primary focus is all things surgical instrument related. Buying, sourcing, standardizing, back order tracking, OR communicating, count sheet updating, and on and on. One job to rule them all. #InstrumentCoordinator #WhoIsThinking...
Oct 01, 2019•6 min
They show up at your department with clipboard in hand, taking notes as they walk through your processes, and ask a ton of questions. Who are they and what are they doing? On this Season 6 kickoff episode of Beyond Clean, we talk with David Taylor about the world of hospital consulting, zeroing in on those unique souls who call themselves Sterile Processing consultants. Tune in to get an insiders look at what these folks actually do when they come to your facility and hear about the many ways th...
Sep 30, 2019•36 min•Season 6Ep. 1
On this week's episode, Bob discusses the vital important of surgical instrument inspection during the assembly process in Sterile Processing and highlights important steps to keep in mind during this stage in the reprocessing workflow. Tune in to start #InspectingBetter today. #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Sep 25, 2019•5 min
Here we go again, on another one of those "but there's no rule that says I have to!" On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank talks about the common sense reasons you should be testing the sharpness of your scissors, every tray, every time. This isn't about being compliant, it's about being smart -- and being safe. After all, which one of us wants to put ourselves, our child, or our loved ones under anesthesia and then hand the surgeon a dull, burred scissor? #CutTheExcuses #TestTheScissors #Figh...
Sep 24, 2019•5 min
If there were one tool that defined the role of a decontamination technician it would most likely be the surgical instrument cleaning brush. These unassuming weapons of mass microbial destruction are some of the most important tools in your Sterile Processing department, but they can easily be overlooked when it comes to creating policies, procedures, and best-practices that hardwire proper brushing of medical devices during the cleaning stage. On this Season 1 episode of Beyond Clean, we talked...
Sep 23, 2019•51 min•Season 1Ep. 17
On this episode of Real Talk w/ Bob Marrs, Bob zeroes in on the power and importance of checklists when dealing with your instrument washing process. The airline industry uses checklists all the time to ensure safety for their pilots, equipment, and passengers -- there's no reason Sterile Processing couldn't do the same. Tune in to hear why Bob is so passionate about checklists and see below for a few examples that your team could use! #ChecklistsWork #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDir...
Sep 18, 2019•3 min
Is your instrument tracking system being used for nothing more than an expensive count sheet printer? Well, you're not alone! On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank talks about a staffing position that you can create in your Sterile Processing department that can help you get the most out of your big (!) investment in tracking technology. It's a job too big for a manager or frontline staff to do by themselves, so you should consider the role of an #InstrumentDatabaseSpecialist . #FightingDirty ...
Sep 17, 2019•6 min
You've probably heard about enzymes before but what exactly are they and why do they matter to the decontamination and cleaning of medical devices? Are all enzymes created equal? Are more enzymes always better? On this episode of Beyond Clean, we continue the conversation with Peggy Spitzer, Clinical Education & Technical Support at Certol international, and zero in on the miraculous little enzymes that are likely hanging out in those bottle of detergent on the shelf or in your washers. Tune...
Sep 16, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 46
On this episode of Real Talk w/ Bob Marrs, Bob lifts the lid off a controversial topic -- lubrication cycles in your washer disinfector. How much lubricant is being added? How many instruments is it being applied to? Which instruments shouldn't be lubricated at all? Tune in to hear why your current lubrication practice may be a waste in more ways than one! #LessonsInLubrication #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spo...
Sep 11, 2019•5 min
How often are you cleaning your steam autoclave chambers? How often should you be? On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank talks about a common misconception regarding this important aspect of equipment maintenance -- and gives you the leverage you need to ensure you have the staff to make it happen. #CleanThoseChambers #FightingDirty #HankBalch #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Sep 10, 2019•5 min
Have you ever looked around your Sterile Processing department and counted all the chemicals around you? Detergents, disinfectants, sterilants, and every other mixture under the sun -- all of them a potential risk to you! On this episode of Beyond Clean, we sat down with Peggy Spitzer, Clinical Education & Technical Support at Certol International, to discuss chemical weaponry in SPD and why your team should become experts in it. Tune in to hear her industry insights from decades in the fiel...
Sep 09, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 43
On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, Mike and Hank went live with special guest Jake McHugh to talk about his creation of @SterileProcessingMemes, and the impact of social media on Sterile Processing industry networking and vendors. Tune in for this fun conversation! (Originally aired on Facebook Live, July 26th, 2019). #BeyondTheHeadlines #MikeMatthews #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website...
Sep 05, 2019•8 min
On this episode of Real Talk w/ Bob Marrs, Bob gives an introduction to the washer disinfector stage of the decontamination process, focusing on impingement, preventative maintenance, and descaling. Tune in to hear how all these things work together to help your team #GetItClean . #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Sep 04, 2019•4 min
What are your thoughts about wrist watches in a Sterile Processing department? On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank talks about one aspect of the controversial debate around jewelry in SPD. Tune in to #FightTheFomite . #FightingDirty #HankBalch #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Sep 03, 2019•2 min
AR, VR, and a whole lot more technology is coming soon to a Sterile Processing department near you! On this episode of Beyond Clean, we brought on the Inverness Disruptor himself, Pawel de Sternberg Stojalowski to discuss augmented reality, virtual reality, and a host of applications for related technology that could make our Sterile Processing departments and teams smarter, safer, and more efficient. Tune in to hear about these exciting opportunities and maybe even get inspired to develop your ...
Sep 02, 2019•44 min•Season 1Ep. 20
On this episode, Mike and Hank went live with Beyond the Headlines and special guest Shawn Flynn to talk about PPE risks, the off-site reprocessing market, Sterile Processing compensation and much more. Tune in for the fun! (Originally aired on Facebook Live, July 18th, 2019). #BeyondTheHeadlines #MikeMatthews #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website...
Aug 29, 2019•1 hr 16 min
On this episode of Real Talk w/ Bob Marrs, Bob continues his discussion on the importance of ultrasonic cleaning in the decontamination process, and focuses in on the need to load this equipment appropriately. Tune in to hear why your department shouldn't be processing certain instruments without it! #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Aug 28, 2019•5 min
Backup surgical instrument inventories can make or break your Sterile Processing department. A poorly designed or incomplete backup wall can create tremendous inefficiency and frustration for your team. A great backup wall and replenishment process can help to hardwire complete tray assembly and take mere seconds to find an instrument instead of causing serious impact to your workflow. On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank delves into the important details to consider in building your backup w...
Aug 27, 2019•13 min
How would you feel if one of your surgeons came down into your Sterile Processing department and it changed their mind about expectations, challenges, and opportunity for improvement for your team? On this throw-back episode from Season 1 (with new CE-approval!) we talked to Dr. Peter Nichol, Pediatric Surgeon at the University of Wisconsin Health and now Chief Medical Officer at Beyond Clean. This interview from nearly two years ago was our first introduction to Peter's passion for instrument p...
Aug 26, 2019•58 min•Season 1Ep. 18
On this episode, Mike and Hank went live with Beyond the Headlines to talk about surgical instrument lawsuits and the true costs of poor quality. #BeyondTheHeadlines #MikeMatthews #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website...
Aug 22, 2019•57 min
On this episode of Real Talk w/ Bob Marrs, Bob starts bursting some bubbles by focusing on the importance of ultrasonic cleaning in the decontamination process. Tune in to hear about how ultrasonication works, tips to consider when using this equipment, and why you should never let Bob operate your personal dishwasher! #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Aug 21, 2019•5 min
