Ask the Educator

Educated sterile processing professionals know that the environmental cleaning of their departments should be done to the same standards as an operating room surgical suite. But are they being treated that way? There’s a document that can help with that. Kevin & Adam speak with fellow Clinical Education Specialist, Seth Hendee, about the ANSI/AAMI ST79 Amendments that were released in 2020, wi...

In the past, we discussed arthroscopic shavers and the progress (or lack thereof) we’ve made as an industry with compliance for cleaning and inspection. In this episode, we are putting the onus back on the YOU, the sterile processing professional, to learn and share as much information and educational content as possible with those who aren’t as “plugged in” to the industry. Take a listen to this...

As an HSPA member, what issues need to be prioritized? How can the Board of Directors help solve these issues? HSPA Board of Directors nominees, Angela Warner, Nicholas Day, and Stacey MacArthur join Adam Okada on the Ask the Educator Podcast! Get to know each nominee and their goals before you cast your vote!

In this episode, we interview three distinguished nominees for the HSPA Board of Directors - Joseph Avila, Tim Hurtado, and Tori Ruiz. Join Kevin Anderson & Adam Okada as they uncover their unique perspectives on the industry and their visions to drive positive change. Listen to this podcast episode before you cast your vote!

Join Kevin Anderson and Adam Okada as they interview Arlene Bush, a nominee for the HSPA Board of Directors presidency. Arlene shares her career background, passions, and commitment to serving HSPA members. Tune in for an insightful conversation with one of this year’s nominees before you vote!  

One of the initial topics explored on the Ask the Educator Podcast was the complex issue of arthroscopic shavers and their cleaning and inspection procedures. Fast forward four years later, where do we stand? Have the essential enhancements been implemented, or are we confronted with recurring challenges? Join Kevin and Adam in this episode as they reflect on the past four years and offer guidance...

In this episode of the Ask the Educator Podcast, we are joined by Sean Weir. Sean shares his passion for sterile processing and how he got involved in mission work. He is committed to helping others and has been involved in mission work for many years. He also shares some tips for those who are interested in getting involved in sterile processing mission trips. Thanks for listening! Please like an...

We load our ultrasonic machines with laparoscopic and robotic instruments, and hopefully, we have the capability to attach them to our flushing mechanism. But how do you know if that flushing mechanism is working? Once the lid is closed, we really have no idea what goes on inside the machine, and as we've learned, just because it's humming doesn't mean it's...WORKING. Kevin Anderson reviews his Au...

Do you know how your sterilizer kills microorganisms? Or more importantly, do you know the mistakes that we make that could prevent them from being killed? Healthmark Industries Clinical Education Specialist, Malinda Elammari, illustrates how this sterilization process works. A follow-up to Healthmark’s most popular webinar in 2023 (Murder Mystery: Death by Sterilization), you won’t want to miss t...

In sterile processing, we know that mistakes can be costly. But without hard data (and a monetary value) these errors are often abstract and hard to quantify, thus making them fade into the background of our minds. Gregory Agoston, from Specialty Care, may have found a solution! Listen in to learn more about how Gregg and his team got their data and used it in a practical and simple way to improve...

Are you reprocessing ultrasound probes in your sterile processing or endoscopy department? If so, are you aware of the percutaneous procedures that may be being performed utilizing these probes? Dr. Daniel Lightfoot (Nanosonics) joins the podcast to talk about reprocessing these ultrasound probes safely utilizing the Spaulding Classification Scale, and how communication is vital between the areas...

It’s been 20 years since New Jersey and later New York were able to have legislation passed for mandatory certification in Sterile Processing. In those 20 years, only 3 other states have been successful at getting this type of legislation on the books. Why are so many others failing, where NJ & NY have succeeded? Is there hope for the future? In this episode, our guest host, Stephen Kovach pos...

It’s been 20 years since New Jersey and later New York were able to have legislation passed for mandatory certification in Sterile Processing. In those 20 years, only 3 other states have been successful at getting this type of legislation on the books. Why are so many others failing, where NJ & NY have succeeded? Is there hope for the future? In this episode, our guest host, Stephen Kovach pos...

We are celebrating Healthmark's 100th Podcast Episode! Kevin, Adam, Stephen and Malinda discuss the purpose of this podcast, look back at old episodes and plans for future episodes! Shoutout to all our listeners!! We appreciate you and hope to continue sharing our knowledge. Thanks for listening! Please like and subscribe for more episodes. Questions or comments? Emails us at: asktheeducator@hmark...

Sterile processing managers and educators are often buried under day-to-day department tasks and solving unexpected problems. How can leaders find time for education? Michael Matthews (Agiliti) joins us to discuss resources SPD leaders can access to help them fulfill educational responsibilities! Thanks for listening! Please like and subscribe for more episodes.

How ready is your department for the revolutionary changes that are coming with Artificial Intelligence (AI)? In this podcast episode, we’ll talk with the father of the modern borescope, Jahan Azizi, about how automation and AI are going to change the way we do our inspection steps. Can it really be this easy? 

International guest, Aimee Space, joins Kevin Anderson on Healthmark's Ask the Educator podcast to discuss her career path in OR & SPD. Listen in as Aimee shares advice for all SPD professionals looking to climb the leadership ladder!

In endoscopy and sterile processing, we often run into the same issues. Training staff to do incredibly complex tasks, while they are under constant pressure to perform quickly. Stress often leads to mistakes, which then leads to hospital-acquired infections. What if there was a better way to perform this training? In the podcast, we welcome guests, Damien Berg, Sarah B. Cruz and Sandra Hilliard t...

Each SPD has problem areas of their own, but have you ever wondered how facilities across the country might look or perform? Our Healthmark Education team has been all over the United States and has that insight into how we are doing as an industry...the results aren't always pretty. In this episode, Cheron, Malinda and Seth discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly and what we as an industry can le...

After a LinkedIn post made by our host, Kevin Anderson, about the importance of testing bipolar forceps for insulation integrity, our guest, Rebecca Peplau, commented about a scenario featuring a specific brand of bipolar forceps and how the SPD technicians were potentially damaging the forceps, just by doing the routine testing! Nothing was written about the issue in the IFU, however. Listen in t...

Have you ever had fire start in your SPD or OR? Or have you heard of a patient being burned by electrosurgical equipment? If FDA reports are any indication, most of us have experienced at least one of these events at some point in our careers. So how does this happen in such a controlled and secure environment? In this episode of the Ask the Educator Podcast, Kevin and Adam speak to Jahan Azizi ab...

In many processing departments too, much emphasis is placed purely on repetition as the means educating the staff. Unfortunately, this leaves many processing professional ill equipped to make good decisions when problems arise. In these moments, when critical thinking is required, staff members whose education lacks a true understanding of why they are doing the task the way they are will be ill p...

Have you ever had a decontamination gown soak through to your scrubs? Have you been splashed from the back side at the sink? Listen in to this episode to learn more about PB70. Co-chairs Cheron Rojo & Jill Holdsworth will explain what PB70 is and how the Protective Barriers Committee is looking to keep SPD technicians safe! Thanks for listening! Please like and subscribe for more episodes.

You may be familiar with ST79 (steam sterilization) and ST91 (flexible endoscopes), but have you heard about ST98: Cleaning validation for healthcare products? AAMI veteran Ralph Basile guides through what the new guidelines state about how manufacturers should be testing their devices to ensure clean products for patients, and how these changes could make for better manufacturer IFU's for end use...

Whether you're a veteran of flexible endoscope processing, or brand new to the field, this podcast series on ST91 is designed for you! In this episode with guest John Whelan, we discuss ST91 and the informative annexes at the back of the document. What do you do when the IFU’s for the scope don’t match the AER manufacturer IFU? Want to know more about simethicone and flexible scopes? How about mor...