Beyond Clean Podcast

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.

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.

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? 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 #WhoIsThinkingAboutYourTrays

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.

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.

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

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 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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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).

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.