First Case

A new season of First Case is on the way! In the meantime, we’re featuring a few episodes from our friends at Beyond Clean and Power Supply. Tune in today! When case information, vendor requirements, and compliance data live in separate systems, even a small gap can create major delays. In Episode 2 of “Operate...

A new season of First Case is on the way! In the meantime, we’re featuring a few episodes from our friends at Beyond Clean and Power Supply. Tune in today! Not all UV technologies are created equal, and for supply chain teams, knowing the difference leads to better purchasing decisions. In this episode of “Evidence...

A new season of First Case is on the way! In the meantime, we’re featuring a few episodes from our friends at Beyond Clean and Power Supply. Tune in today! Black specks may be small, but the tension they create between departments can be anything but. In this episode of “What the Speck?,” Alex Miseirvitch...

A new season of First Case is coming soon! Until then, we’re bringing some Season 11 favorites back for another listen. Bob Marley once said, “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” Everyone can recognize the power that music has. We’re drawn to it emotionally and spiritually, but we...

A new season of First Case is coming soon! Until then, we’re bringing some Season 11 favorites back for another listen. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Pathways are changing the surgical experience for our patients. Our surgical patients are experiencing shorter lengths of stay, decreased postoperative pain, a more rapid return of bowel function, and...

A new season of First Case is coming soon! Until then, we’re bringing some Season 11 favorites back for another listen. Are you ready for Season 11 to begin?? In this season, we’re “Going Beyond Opioids” and focusing on the opioid crisis and alternative pain management methods. And we’re kicking it off with none other...

All season long, we’ve been breaking down the silos between the OR and Infection Prevention teams. So where do we go from here? In this “Silo-Free Surgery” season finale episode, Garrett Hollembeak and Lindsey Joyce are joined by Maureen Spencer and Peter Graves to talk about what it takes to turn collaboration into action. They...

When something doesn’t look right in the OR, do you have the confidence to speak up? In this episode of “Silo-Free Surgery,” Garrett Hollembeak sits down with certified surgical technologist, educator, and infection preventionist Julia Jackson to talk about the role surgical conscience plays in protecting patients and preventing surgical site infections. From protecting the...

The OR sees one thing. Infection Prevention reports another. So who’s right? In this episode of “Silo-Free Surgery,” hosts Garrett Hollembeak and Trey Morrow are joined by infection prevention expert Emily Barnard to tackle one of the trickier parts of SSI surveillance: PATOS, or “present at time of surgery.” Emily breaks down the difference between...

Every surgical procedure depends on a reliable barrier between clinicians and patients, but is every glove designed to deliver the same level of protection? On this week’s First Case Vendor Spotlight™, Rachel Dalton, MSN, RN, CPPS, Global Manager of Medical Affairs at Cardinal Health™, discusses how the Protexis™ Surgical Glove Portfolio is helping OR teams...

Every day, healthcare teams rely on IFUs to get the job done. But how often do we stop to think about how they actually come together? In this week’s special season co-release episode, Garrett Hollembeak sits down with Alpa Patel to take a closer look at why manufacturers’ instructions for use play such an important...

Why is it so difficult to trace a surgical site infection (SSI) back to one clear cause? On this special season co-release episode of First Case and Transmission Control, hosts Garrett Hollembeak and Lindsey Joyce are joined by Jeremy Gibson-Roark for an honest conversation about what really happens when an SSI investigation begins. Together, they...

Every great podcast has a voice that brings each conversation to life. Over the past five years, Melanie Perry has been that voice for First Case. In this special release episode of the First Case Podcast, we celebrate Melanie’s incredible journey as host, reflecting on the stories, guests, and moments that made this podcast such...

Season 20 launches on July 6th! In the meantime, please enjoy some of our favorite episodes from Season 10 of First Case. “Are you ready for the Time Out?” How many times have you asked or heard that question? In the operating room we perform a Time Out prior to the start of every surgical...

Season 20 launches on July 6th! In the meantime, please enjoy some of our favorite episodes from Season 10 of First Case. What is so dangerous about surgical smoke? Is it really that bad? Find out all about the very real dangers of surgical smoke in today’s interview with Brenda Ulmer, Independent Perioperative Nurse Educator....

Season 20 launches on July 6th! In the meantime, please enjoy some of our favorite episodes from Season 10 of First Case. What is advocacy? How can we change practices within our facility and within our state? Joining us today to talk about all things advocacy is Kay Ball, PhD, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, FAAN, adjunct...

Season 20 launches on July 6th! In the meantime, please enjoy some of our favorite episodes from Season 10 of First Case. How do our training programs teach us to advocate for ourselves and for our patients? In this season premiere of Season 10: Advocacy Unleashed, we sit down with Chris Blevins, CST, FAST, Senior...

Even the best systems have moments when things go wrong. What matters most is how we respond. In the Season 19 finale of Sterile Processing 101, Jen Parrott returns to discuss what happens when things go wrong like wet packs, missing instruments, failed indicators, delays, and breakdowns in the process. This episode is a powerful...

How much thought do we really give to packaging… until something goes wrong? In today’s interview, we explore the often-overlooked world of storage, shelf life, and event-related sterility with Malinda Elammari, CEO of Crown Point Consulting. From blue wrap and rigid containers to peel packs and transport practices, this episode breaks down why packaging is...

How do you know the tray you just opened is truly ready for your patient? In Episode 6 of Sterile Processing 101, we sit down with Adam Okada to take a closer look at the indicators, tape, filters, and packaging features that communicate critical sterility information before instruments ever reach the field. Join us as...

In this week’s episode, we take a practical look at the science behind sterilization with Bobby Parker from Beyond Clean. From steam cycles to low-temperature, this episode breaks down the different ways instruments are processed and discusses why each method matters. You’re also going to gain a clearer understanding of indicators, sterility assurance, and why...