Beyond Clean Podcast

Are missing instruments causing chaos in your SPD? Are your count sheets looking more like a game of "Where's Waldo?" rather than an organized surgical tray? This week's episode is dedicated to the unsung heroes of our Sterile Processing departments -- Instrument Coordinators! Join hosts Hank Balch and Bobby Parker as they discuss the pivotal responsibilities that make Instrument Coordinators indi...

In this CE-approved episode of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch highlights how compromising quality standards even once in SPD can lead to a dangerous downward spiral that affects the culture of excellence in a department: "Every time the sun rises over your hospital, ambulatory surgery center, or endoscopy suite, that means you have a new day with a new opportunity to stop the line and protect your...

School's in session this week on Confident Certification™! Host Sarah B. Cruz breaks down the pros and cons of investing in formal Sterile Processing programs. From resume-boosting and instructor mentorships to budget-busting costs and accredited programs, Sarah will give you the tools to pick the right program for you. Whether it's classroom style, virtual, or self-paced courses, this episode wil...

Who is watching out for all those little quality issues in Sterile Processing that could cause massive impacts to our surgical patients? On this week's episode of Season 23, "The Roles that Make Us Great," hosts Hank Balch and Bobby Parker let you in on one of SPD's most effective secret weapons—the SP Quality Assurance Specialist! Tune in as they speak to the critical QA duties this role provides...

Did you know that your entire Sterile Processing department can become certified by a global accreditation agency? On this brand new Beyond Clean Vendor Spotlight™ interview, tune in to hear how Yves Theodule, Sterile Processing Manager at Advocate Christ Medical, pursued DNV's Advanced Sterile Processing Certification for his team and brought newfound respect and continuous improvement to his awa...

In this CE-approved Articles On-The Go episode, Hank Balch explains that even though cross-training Sterile Processing staff enables departments to cope with short-term staffing shortages, it can also lead to leadership voids that threaten long-term excellence and sustainability: "Although the critical instrumentation needed for next-day cases may be getting done with these additional hands on dec...

What fuels your Sterile Processing passion? Why is it important to YOU to be certified? On this week's episode of Confident Certification™, host Sarah B. Cruz cracks the motivation code behind our career ambitions through success planning. She explores the core elements of motivation -- mission, passion, values, vocation, and profession – to help us better understand the WHY behind our goals and c...

Sterile Processing Educators - it's time to answer the question of whether we really have time to educate the way we need! This week on Beyond Clean, Hank Balch and Bobby Parker dive into the critical role of Sterile Processing Educators. Tune in as our dynamic duo dishes out the real talk on elevating education beyond routine compliance to equipping technicians with the right skills and knowledge...

In this CE-approved Articles On-The Go episode, Hank Balch identifies why it's important for Sterile Processing technicians to take organized action to address workplace issues, instead of venting their frustrations on social media: "The big takeaway in all of this is simple: Don't let social media activity be a replacement for the most powerful activity of all—you and your fellow technicians gath...

Don't just memorize, comprehend! On this week's episode of Confident Certification™, host Sarah B. Cruz explores the power of learning the "why" behind Sterile Processing concepts. Rather than just memorizing, comprehending the deeper meaning behind our roles is key to transforming how we prep, practice, and perform. Tune in as Sarah breaks down this critical concept with relatable examples that w...

Are you ready to move up the leadership ranks in your Sterile Processing department? This week on Beyond Clean, Hank Balch and Bobby Parker tackle the trials and triumphs of transitioning from a technician role to first-level leadership – Lead Tech & Supervisor. We're getting real about the challenges these new leaders face - from transitioning away from hands-on tasks to supervising workflows and...

In this CE-approved Articles On-The Go episode, Hank Balch explains how department newsletters are a powerful tool for Sterile Processing managers to showcase their team's important contributions to patient safety and quality care: "Newsletters offer you a strategic opportunity to tell your story of quality and improvement on an ongoing basis to everybody who is anybody in your hospital..." To rea...

On this week's episode of Confident Certification™, host Sarah B. Cruz is joined by industry expert Rick Schultz to explore tactics for building comprehension and uncovering the deeper meaning behind our Sterile Processing certifications. Tune in as we explore ways to tap into the fundamental WHY behind our critical roles in patient care and understand the importance of what we do and why we do it...

Think you have what it takes to be a Sterile Processing technician? In this season's premiere episode of Beyond Clean Season 23 "The Roles that Make Us Great," veteran Sterile Processing leaders Hank Balch and Bobby Parker dive into the good, the bad, and the overwhelming about life on the frontlines of instrument reprocessing. From sweating in decon and answering panicked calls for the OR, to tho...

In this CE-approved Articles On-The Go episode, Hank Balch outlines the actionable steps SPDs should follow to prioritize technician safety in the decontamination area: " You don't have to spend more than five minutes in a Sterile Processing decontamination area to realize it's a dangerous space. The entire concept of standard precautions causes some technicians to daydream about what horrible dis...

On this week's episode of Confident Certification™, hosts Sarah B. Cruz and Bobby Parker decode the unique differences between on-the-job training and off-the-clock education, and explore how you can use your everyday work experiences to strengthen your career prospects! In this episode, you'll learn how to:   Compile a list of knowledge gaps to target Merge training and education to elevate your...

In this CE-approved Articles On-The Go episode, Hank Balch identifies how healthy competition and collaboration can work together to improve SPDs and the industry: "If you can't get the job yourself, make sure you challenge the other applicants to be even better than you. If you want that big award for your team, use every competitive encouragement you can muster to drive your technicians to reach...

Let's face it -- studying for your certification exam can feel overwhelming in more ways than one. And it can come on you at different times, during different chapters, and in different ways. Join us this week for a jam-packed episode of Confident Certification™ where hosts Sarah B. Cruz and Bobby Parker delve into time management strategies, explore creative learning methods, and help you discove...

In this CE-approved episode of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch discusses the likelihood of achieving a universal consensus on Sterile Processing acronyms: "In light of this reality, where does that leave us? It seems we have what Americans love best: freedom. Freedom to call our departments whatever we want. Freedom to use any acronym to name our organizations, and freedom to reference our industry...

Are you tired of feeling stuck in your test prep? ➡️ Join Sarah B. Cruz on this week's episode of Confident Certification™ as we explore her vision of "SMART-ER goals" and unlock their power to boost your study sessions and propel you and your coworkers towards certification success in Sterile Processing!  Learn how to: Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals (SMART) E...

In this CE-approved episode of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch outlines why proper lighting is critical throughout Sterile Processing workflows for inspection, disinfection, and tracking: "Ultraviolet light (UV) is one of the most helpful types of light in the sterile processing world. New technologies integrating the power of UV light can change everything from the way your department handles hand...

Things don't always go according to plan when it comes to studying for or teaching students ahead of their professional certification test. What do you do when you put in all that work studying but still end up failing on the big day? Host Sarah B. Cruz has been there, and shares her tips for bouncing back after an unsuccessful certification attempt. Learn how to reframe failure as an opportunity...

Join us for this new Beyond Clean  Vendor  Spotlight™  featuring Mark Copeland from 3T Medical, as he shares his insights from 18 years in spine sales and 10 years partnering with Sterile Processing and Operating Room teams from around the US. Mark explains common challenges faced by  vendor  reps and how collaboration across OR, Sterile Processing, and hospital leadership drives true success. Lea...

In this CE-approved episode of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch critiques the safety hazards and design flaws with some of our SPD's most used equipment: "Whether it is the tape dispenser, washer manifold, or some other sharp/hot/slippery corner of our world, until we talk about it, we can't expect to find solutions. Very few in the research and development sector of the Sterile Processing industry...

When your certification journey hits a roadblock, how do you rebound? Join host Sarah B. Cruz on this episode of Confident Certification™ as she navigates the challenging terrain of exam failure and the subsequent retesting process. Discover the importance of emotional processing before jumping back into strategic planning. Gain insights on how to capitalize on retesting intervals to identify know...