Beyond Clean Podcast

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...

In this CE-approved episode of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch identifies the key habits and commitments that set highly effective Sterile Processing departments apart from average ones: "As with all habits, these behaviors and commitments did not mature overnight, and some were years in the making. Even so, implementing and encouraging these seven habits among your team can and will change the qua...

On this week's episode of Confident Certification™ Sarah B. Cruz and Bobby Parker discuss what it really means to "be your own biggest fan" on the journey toward certification. They talk about celebrating small wins and milestones, finding motivation in purpose, and leaning into a growth mindset when faced with failures or imposter syndrome. Sarah and Bobby explore how self-belief ties into being...

Join us this week as we wrap up Season 22 "All 'Bout Consumables" with guest Robby Miller, Manager of Sterile Processing at Dignity Health's St. Joseph's Hospital, sharing his strategies for managing consumables at a high level. Robby shares tips on stewarding department resources through education, the place of consumables in process improvement, and leveraging vendor relationships to drive effic...

Who's got your back on the road to certification? Why does it matter? On this week's edition of Confident Certification™, host Sarah B. Cruz talks about the importance of finding a supportive community when pursuing your certification goals. Tune in to hear key tips on how to build your network, connect with fellow Sterile Processing professionals in the same season of study, and find the right sp...

Join us this week on Beyond Clean as we chat with Rory Burke, Lead Medical Supply Technician and member of the Beyond Clean Advisory Group, about consumables such as protein residue testing tools in Sterile Processing. On this episode, we discuss the differences between ATP and protein methods, workflow considerations, guidelines and standards around testing, and best practices for investigating f...

In this CE-approved episode of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch discusses the career advancement opportunities the "Great Resignation" presented for Sterile Processing professionals: -- "If you are willing to stick with your current employer through this season of employment upheaval, you position yourself very powerfully to be strongly considered for that next step up the department career ladder....

Are you that brave, adventurous type of Sterile Processing technician? Do you prefer to go your own pace, and set your own goals? Then self-study for the certification exam may be for you! Join hosts Sarah B. Cruz and Bobby Parker on this episode of Confident Certification™ as they provide tips for creating your own curriculum, outlining key topics, and incorporating formal and informal education...

What's blue and has flaps? A bluebird. What's blue and can be folded? Blue jeans! What's blue and can save lives? Now THAT's a good question. Join us for this episode of Season 22, featuring Sterile Processing Educator and member of the Beyond Clean Advisory Group Sean Weir, as he joins us to discuss the iconic blue wrap - a polyproplene material used to package surgical instruments all around the...

In this CE-approved episode of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch discusses why IFUs, not sales reps, should be trusted when it comes to instrument reprocessing: -- "…it is imperative that we build a culture and expectation among our team that we welcome rep-based education, but always take everything we hear with a big grain of salt. In other words, listen for insights, but verify everything with a m...

Tired of staring at the same textbook page for hours? On this week's episode of Confident Certification™, Sarah B. Cruz feels your study pain and is dishing out tips to make every minute of certification prep count! Find your prime study spot - whether it's noisy or quiet, solo or in a group. Learn how to get real about your schedule and build in flexibility as Sarah gets real about her own distra...

Clean? Really Clean? Just a Dream? What does "Clean" even mean? Join us for this week's new release from Season 22 on Beyond Clean, featuring Pawel de Sternberg Stojalowski, an expert in decontamination science and cleaning verification fanatic! We pitch Pawel some of the most important questions related to clinically relevant test soils, optimizing washer loading techniques, and adopting a critic...