Ask the Educator

The SPD department has many unsung heroes. These can be different types of supplies or equipment that we may take for granted, but play a critical role in our department. In this episode, Stephen Kovach and I discuss the importance of the case cart washer.

Damien Berg explains what exactly a TIR is compared to an industry standard. He also explains how the document AAMI TIR 12 will impact both the manufacturer and the end user.

In this episode, Kevin Anderson interviews Nancy Chobin, CEO of Sterile Processing University. Nancy shares her thoughts on all things related to education in sterile processing, including certification and the need for more development for managers of sterile processing.

AAMI has released four amendments to the Comprehensive Guide to Steam Sterilization (ANSI/AAMI ST79:2017). In this episode, host Kevin Anderson shares a high level overview of the latest amendments.

Bernie Spencer shares principles learned while working 25 years in the automotive industry and how he applies them to the device processing world that he has been working in over the last 8 years. In this episode he specifically speaks about how he applies these principles learned to the endoscope channel brushing process.

In this episode, Kevin Anderson speaks with Healthmark Laboratory Technician, Audrey McDonald. She introduces ASTM International standards that apply to testing the cleaning efficacy of brushes that are used to clean medical devices. She also shares how brushes are tested, specifically brushes that are meant to clean instrument channels, or lumens.

The sterile processing industry continues to evolve. It is important that whether we are certified or not, that all of us in the device processing world are committed to education. What are we learning and what are we teaching others. Host Kevin Anderson shares some practical ways to get involved in education in 2021.

In the spirit of the holiday season, Kevin Anderson shares a personal message about one of the greatest gifts we can give.

Healthmark educators Seth Hendee and Cheron Rojo discuss what a KPI is and how they are important in device processing.

In this episode, Educators Seth Hendee and Cheron Rojo talk about the basics of insulation testing and what we need to know.

Pennsylvania has just made news with the passing of a law that will require sterile processing techs to have certification. This is great news of course! But where do we go from here? It has been twenty years since New Jersey became the first state to pass a similar law/regulation. How do we continue to elevate the level of education in the industry? In this interview, we speak with Tony Monaco, o...

The World Federation for Hospital Sterilization Sciences (WFHSS), like most organizations that provide a conference type education program, has had to pivot and offer their conference in a digital format. Harry Oussoren shares what we need to know about the Digital Day education program coming up this November 26th.

In this episode Stephen Kovach discusses the origin of the ten factors of cleaning as well as why these factors are so important.

In this interview, Rod Parker, Senior Principal Scientist at Stryker, gives us a behind the scenes look at the development of the Blue62 detergent. He also helps us to answer the question... is there one detergent that is ideal for all circumstances?

Cheron Rojo and Kevin Anderson discuss ways to handle the common problem of missing instruments.

Stephen Kovach and Kevin Anderson cover the last of the ten factors of cleaning and discuss the importance of cleaning chemistries.

In this episode, Stephen Kovach explains how the type of soil you are trying to clean can impact the effectiveness of your cleaning process.

Stephen Kovach and Kevin Anderson continue their 10 factors of cleaning series. In this episode, they discuss the mechanical factor impacts the outcomes of the cleaning process.

In this edition of the Ten Factors of Cleaning series, Stephen Kovach explains how the dilution and concentration of detergents is one of the critical factors of cleaning reusable medical devices.

Stephen Kovach speaks with host Kevin Anderson about how water is one of the 10 factors of cleaning and what we need to know about it.

Dr. Kaye and Dr. Roberts, from University of Michigan Medicine, share their story of multidisciplinary collaboration that led to finding the safest and most effective way to process n95 masks.

Stephen Kovach shares how temperature makes one of the ten critical factors of cleaning, and why you should be monitoring water temperature.

Kevin Anderson and Stephen Kovach continue the 10 factors of cleaning series, and discuss how industry standards impact our cleaning processes.

In this episode, Stephen Kovach and Kevin Anderson discuss a third factor of the ten factors of cleaning... the human factor.

In this episode, Stephen Kovach and Kevin Anderson discuss how the device design is one of the ten factors that effect the cleaning process.