Beyond Clean Podcast

You depend on steam every single day to keep your SPD moving. So, when steam issues shut down your sterilizers, who you gonna call? On this episode of Beyond Clean, we sit down with Jim Carlock, Regional Director of Sterile Processing for Mercy, to talk about why your relationship with facilities management might be the most important partnership for your SPD. Jim walks us through how steam is gen...

Technical skills might get you in the door, but what does it actually take to build a lasting career in medical device reprocessing? On this episode of Beyond Clean Canada, Stacey and Barry are joined by Alberta MDR professionals Colleen Penman and Luke Siewert to talk about their journeys into MDR and what it takes to thrive in one of Western Canada's busiest hospitals. From navigating complex in...

Where are Canada's dental sterilization standards headed next? In this series finale of "Sterilization Standards Unpacked," we're joined by Leeanne Ismail, Clinical Sterilization Specialist at Solventum, to look ahead at the future of dental reprocessing. From digital traceability and rapid-read BIs to maintenance programs and smarter tracking tools, Leeanne shares how technology is reshaping safe...

Wet packs happen in every department. But how much do we really know about what causes them? This week on Beyond Clean, Jason Simon, Senior Product Manager at Skytron, is back to break down why wet packs happen and what you can do to help prevent them. Jason breaks down what's happening during the drying phase, why some loads fail to dry, and how operator practices, loading decisions, and equipmen...

Ever wonder how personal experience shapes the way we approach education and patient safety in MDR? In this episode of Beyond Clean Canada, Stacey Gielen and Barry Pickrem sit down with Lisa McKown, Manager of Research and Development at Beyond Clean, to discuss education, innovation, and what it takes to drive change in medical device reprocessing. Lisa shares her journey from the frontline to le...

Sterilization standards look a lot different on paper than they do in the middle of a busy clinic day. That gap between policy and practice is the focus of this episode of " Sterilization Standards Unpacked ," where host Sarah B. Cruz sits down with Nova Scotia Registered Dental Assistant Melissa Arnold to walk through what CSA-driven workflows actually look like in a typical dental office. From d...

You load trays and hit start on your steam sterilizer dozens of times a day. But do you actually know what's happening inside that chamber once the door closes? This week, we sit down with Jason Simon, Senior Product Manager at Skytron, to break down how steam sterilizers actually work—from air removal and steam jackets to exposure phases and drying cycles. Jason walks us through the critical role...

What really happens at the microscopic level when we talk about "clean" in dental sterilization? In this episode of "Sterilization Standards Unpacked," host Sarah B. Cruz is joined by Dr. Atila Nozari, Senior Medical Liaison at Solventum, to connect the science of microbiology with the day-to-day realities of instrument reprocessing in dental practices. From bioburden and biofilm to the evidence b...

Weight limits exist for every sterilizer and every tray that goes into it. But what happens when those limits get overlooked in the daily rush? On this episode of Beyond Clean, we sit down with Sterile Processing educator Carol Malone to explore what really drives safe sterilizer loading. From discovering chamber capacity limits you might not know about to creating visual controls that help your t...

Dental clinics may be small, but the expectations for safe, consistent sterilization are anything but. In this episode of "Sterilization Standards Unpacked," Warren Hiller joins us to explore how CSA Z314, Health Canada, and provincial guidelines come together to shape dental reprocessing across provinces. From dental assistants juggling sterilization tasks to the growing requirements for certifie...

Ever wonder why your "stainless" steel instruments keep staining and rusting? On this episode of Beyond Clean, we sit down with metallurgical engineer Michaela Kuba for an inside look at what surgical stainless steel actually is—and what it isn't. Michaela explains why that passivation layer matters and how factors like chlorine exposure, free iron contamination, and water quality can quietly sabo...

Perfect imaging every time. No repairs. No reprocessing. Could single-use arthroscopes be the answer? On this special Beyond Clean, First Case, Power Supply, and Transmission Control Vendor Spotlight™ co-release episode, we're joined by Rich McKillop, CEO of Pristine Surgical , to explore how their Summit™ 4K Single-Use Arthroscope is redefining what efficiency looks like in the OR. Learn how this...

Feeling overwhelmed by Canada's newest dental sterilization standards? You're not alone. In this kickoff episode of our newest podcast series "Sterilization Standards Unpacked: Navigating Canada's Dental Guidelines," host Sarah B. Cruz takes us back to basics with a clear, practical look at who writes the standards, how they're enforced, and why they don't always look the same from province to pro...

The dreaded missing indicator—you've trained on it, created systems for it, and yet trays still reach the OR without them. What if technology could catch that mistake before the tray ever leaves your department? On this episode of Beyond Clean, Gregory Warino, Director of Central Sterile Processing at Mercy Health, shares how his team used AI to tackle missing CIs across three facilities. From get...

What if your department could go from over 10% immediate use steam sterilization (IUSS) cycles to nearly zero? In the Season 31 premiere of Beyond Clean, we're joined by Monica Anderson, Sterile Processing Manager and the fearless leader of a team that did exactly that. Monica walks us through the real-world strategies her department used to identify every pathway leading to IUSS—and how they syst...

Accreditation surveys don't start when the clipboard walks in—they start with your culture, your training, and your daily workflows. In this series finale of "Sterile Horizons," host Bobby Parker talks with Jenny Manderino, Senior Director of Accreditation Services at LifeCare Health, to break down what it really takes to stay inspection-ready in a fast-paced ASC. From culture-building tips to doc...

The temp spikes. The humidity climbs. Your sterile storage alarms go off—now what? In this episode of Beyond Clean's Tray Command, we sit down with Senior Infection Preventionist Stephen Rusbarsky to explore the brand-new ASHRAE 43 guideline and what it means for Sterile Processing. Stephen breaks down what changes, what stays the same, and how this new guidance outlines actionable steps for respo...

In the fast-paced world of ASCs, sterility assurance isn't just a priority—it's non-negotiable. But what does getting it right actually look like? In this episode of "Sterile Horizons," we're joined by clinical compliance expert, Sharon Greene Golden, for an honest look at the tools, techniques, and team habits that help SPDs stay on track. From washer testing missteps to misunderstood indicators...

Every successful surgery starts with a perfectly assembled case cart. But what happens when the next cart rolling into the OR is missing a critical supply or instrument? This week, we're joined by Courtney Kleeb, Senior Director of Perioperative Surgical Solutions at HealthTrust Performance Group, for a deep dive into what really drives case cart success. From preference card cleanup to fixing ine...

Better protection. Less waste. Could your instrument tip protectors really do both? On this special Beyond Clean and Power Supply Vendor Spotlight™ co-release episode , we're joined by Gabrielle Kelly and Kristi Schelhaas , Co-Founders of Raine Medical , to explore their S.A.F.E.R. approach to instrument protection. Learn how their PVC-free, recyclable tip protectors eliminate sticky residue, opti...

When trays are turning fast and supplies are running low, it's not just the shelves that feel the strain—it's also your staff. In this episode of "Sterile Horizons," we sit down with Bobbie Gaskins to talk candidly about what it takes to keep Sterile Processing departments running in lean ASC environments. From building smarter vendor partnerships to getting creative with limited sets, Bobbie shar...

You're in the middle of a normal day, and suddenly an emergency case is called. Your team reaches for the emergency cart… and that's when it hits you: something's missing. It's a scenario every SPD and OR team dreads—and one that longtime OR/SPD leader David Taylor has seen more than once in his career. In this episode of Beyond Clean's Tray Command, David joins us to take a real-world look at wha...

Think an ASC should operate like a mini hospital? Think again! In this episode of "Sterile Horizons," industry powerhouse Monique Jelks joins host Bobby Parker to set the record straight on the real-world challenges of sterilization in Ambulatory Surgery Centers. From limited space and lean staffing to overlooked training gaps, Monique brings her sharp insight into the everyday pressures ASCs face...

It's 3rd shift on a Saturday, the BI fails—is your team prepared for what happens next? In this episode of Tray Command, we're joined by Sandra Hilliard to talk through the policies, workflows, and clear decision pathways every SPD needs before a recall alarm hits. From identifying true root causes to determining whether you're looking at a one-load recall or a full sterilizer revalidation, Sandra...

What does it really take to build an ASC Sterile Processing department that runs lean and safe? In this premiere episode of our new podcast series "Sterile Horizons," we're joined by longtime industry consultant David Jagrosse to explore the core principles behind ASCs that work smarter—not harder. From eliminating waste to improving team flow and reducing risk, David walks us through what lean de...