Get ready to train your brain for certification success in this week's episode of Confident Certification™ with Sarah B. Cruz! Tune in as Adam Okada, Clinical Education Specialist at Healthmark Industries AND Founder of the Sterile Education mobile app, joins us to share his favorite techniques to boost memory, retention and confidence as preparing for your exam. Learn how to break old habits and optimize new learning systems tailored to Sterile Processing. Discover strategies used by the pros t...
Oct 03, 2023•24 min
How well do you really know the Bowie Dick test? Join Don Tumminelli as he kicks off our Season 22 premiere and unpacks the history, science, and purpose behind this crucial daily sterilizer challenge test and one of the least understood SPD consumable. Learn proper test pack placement, cycle parameters, result interpretation, and troubleshooting steps for failures. Discover the difference between assessing air removal vs sterilization efficacy. Uncover common myths and look ahead to potential f...
Oct 02, 2023•33 min•Season 22Ep. 1
In this CE-approved episode of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch warns against the danger of misinformation and SPD group-think on social media: -- "Because we often do not know the people on the other end of these social media platforms—what they know and what they don’t—putting the lives of our patients on the line to trust their answers is not a wise or sustainable solution. As helpful as most of these users are trying to be, the end result is often an unintelligible mix of opinions, humor, pers...
Sep 28, 2023•5 min
Are you or your coworker struggling to retain information while prepping for your certification exam? Learn how to maximize comprehension based on your unique study style in this episode of Confident Certification™ with host Sarah B. Cruz. This week Sarah will outline the four main types of learning - kinesthetic, visual, auditory, and reading - and provide tailored techniques for each one. Find out if you're a note-taker, listener, reader or doer and get actionable tips to optimize your prep. B...
Sep 26, 2023•21 min
(Season 22 new episodes begin releasing Oct 2nd! Until then, enjoy these exclusive conference special releases from some of our best Beyond Clean events) Join us this week for a "PowerPanel" discussion dedicated to workflow optimization in Sterile Processing! Our panel of industry experts are joined forces to equip you with the tools needed to streamline your SPD's workflows, identify process bottlenecks, and increase your overall productivity. Hear real-life success stories from professionals w...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 5 min
In this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch describes a tool that every SPD leader should use in directing their department's culture: -- "Even though you may already have random one-on-one conversations on the same topics, or bring up similar issues during your staff meetings, a pulse survey allows you to gather these insights anonymously to ensure you really get to the heart of your team’s feelings about the current state of the department culture, direction, and atmosphere. ...
Sep 21, 2023•6 min
It's time to find your study style groove on the latest Confident Certification™ podcast! Join Sarah B. Cruz and her work BFF Bobby Parker as they get real about active learning, advocating for yourself, and matching your preferences to absorb material fully. Learn why cramming facts cement mixer-style doesn't cut it for comprehension and retention. Discover steps like taking quizzes to ID your style, admitting what doesn't work, and speaking up to tailor training. Sarah shares her ritual of 45-...
Sep 19, 2023•26 min
(Season 22 new episodes begin releasing Oct 2nd! Until then, enjoy these exclusive conference special releases from some of our best Beyond Clean events) Where did all the technicians go?? It's the question on the minds of every HR professional and SPD manager across our industry, and one we hope to tackle during this action-packed panel discussion! Our panel of experts are joining forces to help equip you with the tools necessary to attract and retain that rock-star Sterile Processing technicia...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 3 min
🎙️ Endoscopes don't take care of themselves -- so what are you doing to ensure they live long and prosper in your facility? Tune in for this week's Beyond Clean Vendor Spotlight™ featuring Skip Smith, Area Manager for Onsite Services, and Carrie Armellino, Marketing Manager for PROTECTION1® Service and Reprocessing, from KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, as they delve into the world of economical, efficient, and environmentally friendly endoscopy solutions for your SPD and OR! Explore how KARL STOR...
Sep 15, 2023•32 min
On this CE approved re-release of Articles On-The-Go, tune in for tips on how to create a competitive Sterile Processing resume: "This resume you are working on could be the road map for all kinds of future career growth. Although you may be thinking it's just for an entry level Sterile Processing position, if you were to land the job, you could very well become the most viable candidate for that supervisor or manager position a few years down the road. The point is, your resume is more importan...
Sep 14, 2023•6 min
Join the Confident Certification™ podcast this week as host Sarah B. Cruz interviews Sterile Processing legend Sharon Green Golden on her decades of experience and insights into certification! Learn how Sharon found her passion & niche in SPD, pursued certification later in her career, and became an educator shaping the next generation of #CleanFreaks. In this episode Sarah & Sharon discuss how being certified lifted Sharon’s career and allowed her to network and advocate for Sterile Pro...
Sep 12, 2023•35 min
(Season 22 new episodes begin releasing Oct 2nd! Until then, enjoy these exclusive conference special releases from some of our best Beyond Clean events) // We all know that collaboration is essential to patient care. But have you ever thought about how it can improve healthcare sustainability? Well, get ready to collaborate! Our panel of Supply Chain Experts are teaming up to share their insights on collaboration and the vital link between supply chains and the clinical areas such as Sterile Pr...
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr
On this CE approved re-release of Articles On-The-Go, tune in for tips on becoming the Chick-fil-A of your surgical team by focusing on service excellence in SPD: "You know your customers better than anyone else, so be intentional about hiring SPD techs according to your overarching department emphasis on customer service. Include questions in your interview process about how the candidate has handled an irate customer in the past, or ask them to describe a time when they had to communicate comp...
Sep 07, 2023•6 min
Where does Sterile Processing certification fit into your busy life?Join hosts Sarah B. Cruz and Bobby Parker as they tackle balancing personal and professional priorities on the latest episode of Confident Certification™. Learn how Bobby incorporated studying into his facility's onboarding and hear Sarah's tips for planning your study schedule. Discover strategies to make certification a natural part of your workflow, not just another item on your to-do list. We hope you can tune in today for a...
Sep 05, 2023•24 min
(Season 22 new episodes begin releasing Oct 2nd! Until then, enjoy these exclusive conference special releases from some of our best Beyond Clean events) // Are you ready for a guided journey deep into the world of Sterile Processing productivity with a panel of frontline SPD professionals? Do you ever ask yourself; how does all this productivity stuff really work and why is it such a big topic of conversation in our departments (and digital platforms? Then this exclusive podcast release from ou...
Sep 04, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Join host Sarah B. Cruz on the world premiere of the newest Beyond Clean podcast series entitled, Confident Certification™ , an innovative educational experience created to help you, your students, and your coworkers ace your Sterile Processing certification with confidence! In Episode 1, "Fail, Fail, Fail: My Testing Story," Sarah courageously shares her journey of failing the certification exam 3 times before finally passing, and introduces the audience to the overarching vision of this Confid...
Sep 01, 2023•19 min
On this CE approved re-release of Articles On-The-Go, tune in for encouragement and recommendations on your hunt for Sterile Processing all-stars at your hospital: "Not only is the physical location of the Sterile Processing department in the basement of the hospital, but it is often in the basement of the broader healthcare consciousness. Society knows about doctors and nurses, x-ray techs and anesthesiologists - but who ever heard of a sterilization tech? Is that, like, for people? Even with t...
Aug 31, 2023•5 min
(Season 22 new episodes begin releasing Oct 2nd! Until then, enjoy these exclusive conference special releases from some of our best Beyond Clean events) // No Sterile Processing department is an island-- even if we are kind of surrounded by water at every turn! Understanding and educating around water quality is a burden we all must bear, from the very first day as a new technician to annual competencies to updating policies to align with new guidelines. But educating on these topics is no easy...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 5 min
In this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch advocates for the use of Social Media for education in Sterile Processing: -- "...we have the opportunity to shine an even greater light on the things that many outside our facilities may never see. What does a used loaner instrument tray look like coming back from the operating room? How easy is it to test the insulation on your laparoscopic graspers? What kind of material should be used to test the sharpness of your scissors? Educat...
Aug 24, 2023•6 min
Join us in this episode 8 of Season 21 on Beyond Clean, as we chat about the concept of "proactive quality assurance" in Sterile Processing with Bobby Parker, VP of Clinical Services at Beyond Clean. Should you wait to find errors AFTER that make it all the way to the OR to be found by nurses, surgical techs, and surgeons? Or is there a better way to capture data and improve the process proactively? What is the role of a Quality Assurance Technician in SPD? We tackle all these questions and more...
Aug 21, 2023•35 min•Season 21Ep. 8
Has your OR team ever grabbed a power tool off of the backtable only to be horrified when bioburden fell out of it? On this Beyond Clean Vendor SpotlightTM with Jason Moonen, Product Manager at Aesculap, we talk about why this experience doesn't have to happen! The ELAN® 4 Power System is the only micro power system that you can flush internally from proximal to distal end. This design allows bioburden to be forced out of the handpiece, giving your Sterile Processing team the confidence of clean...
Aug 18, 2023•30 min
In this CE approved re-release of Articles On-The-Go, listen in for tips on addressing all the "time" requirements in your Sterile Processing department: "While the days of pocket watches may be behind us, and wrist watches are a no-no for infection control reasons, the decontamination area of your SPD should still be replete with plenty of ticks and tocks. Besides knowing how to clean (which is challenging all by itself), frontline reprocessing technicians must also be given the tools to know h...
Aug 17, 2023•7 min
Join us on this week's CE approved episode of Beyond Clean as we embark on a one-of-a-kind conversation with Osama Alsadawi, BSHA, AMST, CRCST, CIS, CHL, CER, Assistant Chief of Sterile Processing Services, and self-professed data nerd. Delving into his personal journey and experience with Sterile Processing training, Osama introduces us to the interesting concept of "mind mapping." How can this visual tool can be a game-changer in the Sterile Processing space? What can it do for your onboarding...
Aug 14, 2023•34 min•Season 21Ep. 7
Our industry is increasingly becoming a high tech space. But are our technicians and training keeping up? In this week's episode of Beyond Clean, we're joined by Amanda Wilcox, CSPDT, the powerhouse Education Coordinator for Sterile Processing at UH Hospitals. Amanda takes us deep into the world of instrument tracking systems, sharing her wisdom on its significance in Sterile Processing and the common challenges technicians face regarding onboarding and training. With a wealth of experience unde...
Aug 07, 2023•36 min•Season 21Ep. 6
In this CE-approved re-release of Articles On-The-Go, listen in for insights around overcoming service failures in your Sterile Processing department: "In the world of Sterile Processing, you rarely get the opportunity to build your reputation or the reputation of your departments from scratch. And even if you could, because mistakes are part of human nature, your SPD team will have to overcome a process failure at some point in their professional experience. But those failures should be seen as...
Aug 03, 2023•6 min
Join us this week on Beyond Clean as Jason Minutillo, Regional Director of Quality for HLD and Sterilization at UC Health, takes us on a tour into the intricate data ecosystem of Sterile Processing staffing. From unraveling crucial keywords like FTEs to detailing the nuances between productive and non-productive hours, Jason provides insights that will help you take a fresh look at your department's staffing strategies. Learn how strategic data plays a pivotal role in everything from recruiting ...
Jul 31, 2023•41 min•Season 21Ep. 5
Welcome to the new Transmission Control Newsflash on Beyond Clean! This miniseries will provide brief updates form the world of infection prevention to our Beyond Clean audience from the hosts of the Transmission Control podcast, Justin Poulin and Dr. Lawrence Muscarella! This video is a recap on the topic that wraps everything up and gives you advice on how to handle this potential issue in the future... Want to see more? Check out our LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transmissio...
Jul 26, 2023•13 min
In this episode 4 of Season 21 of Beyond Clean, we're joined by the reprocessing tag-team of Tracy Raymond and Jen Barnickel from Vested Medical, to unravel the nuances of vendor-owned inventory management in the Sterile Processing space. The duo highlights the significance of syncing vendor inventory management with broader Sterile Processing objectives and discusses the pivotal metrics every member of the surgical workflow should have to stay informed. In our conversations, they shed light on ...
Jul 24, 2023•42 min•Season 21Ep. 4
What is the shelf life of a ONE TRAY® container? Why is everyone so confused about things like load documentation, cycle times, and water? Joining us on this week's Beyond Clean Vendor Spotlight™ series is Melissa McVaugh, Infection Preventionist at Standardized Sterilization Concepts (SSC), to talk about the most common questions users encounter in the field during onboarding the device, training new staff, and passing accreditation surveys. In this episode, Melissa clears up some of the misund...
Jul 21, 2023•31 min
In this CE approved re-release of Articles On-The-Go, listen in for an important conversation around Sterile Processing inspiration: "Amidst all the challenges, we also experience tremendous victories as a Sterile Processing team. We save lives. We preempt the horrible suffering that could occur due to a surgical site infection. We provide sterile and functional tools to the anatomical artists in the OR who reconstruct broken bodies and broken bones. We help find tumors, deliver babies, and rest...
Jul 19, 2023•5 min
