Does current surgical site infection data account for the reality of contaminated implants? What kind of research has been done around the safety of individually packaged sterile implants versus reprocessed implants? To kickoff Season 8 of the Beyond Clean podcast, we sat down with Dr. Aakash Agarwal, Director of Research and Development for Spinal Balance Inc, who has been working extensively on research projects to study the effects of reprocessing implantable pedicle screws and their subsequent infection risk. Conversations like these have implications not only for manufacturers and surgical service professionals, but also for the patients who undergo these procedures. Tune in with us this week as we talk #ContaminatedImplants. 

If you were given the opportunity to make a significant impact on the sustainability of the Sterile Processing industry as a profession, would you take it? Sterile Processing is a high-risk, high-stress, and high-tech industry. In many facilities it isn't sufficiently supported financially, in terms of safety, and also in terms of education-based career ladders and on this week’s episode we talk with Dr. Peter Nichol who is spearheading a research project that could change the way this industry is supported. Studies show that the amount of waste that comes from SPD is in the billions. Dr. Nichol gives equations that can help determine waste in your department and gives a call-to-action to be an active part of the necessary improvements for the industry as a whole. The issues that exist (high-turnover, reprocessing waste, case delays, etc.) are fixable if we pool our resources together toward forward progress. Tune in now to learn how you can be a part of the solution!

As Sterile Processing professionals, something that we will always need is an advocate. We need people throughout our healthcare facilities to back us, to support us, and to help make the case for improvements throughout surgical services--especially Sterile Processing. On this episode, we talk with Melissa Morgan about the importance of Infection Prevention understanding the detailed work and the level of importance in Sterile Processing. Melissa gives an account of her journey from paramedic to nurse to Infection Preventionist and talks with us about what led her to learning about the Sterile Processing department. Infection Prevention can advocate for Sterile Processing and Melissa paints a picture of a collaborative and positive relationship that many Sterile Processing departments can use as a template for improving their connection with Infection Preventionists in your facilities.

The chemicals used to sterilize medical devices are near-odorless and are designed to kill all life. Front line sterilization technicians have every reason to question why hazardous chemicals are not monitored in their department. In this episode of the Beyond Clean podcast we talk with David Hilliker, a champion of worker safety in the healthcare industry about why it's important to care about the potential for chemical exposure. He talks with Justin Poulin and Bob Marrs about the roles government agencies play, why there isn't more rigorous testing and he also compares the most popular chemicals used in Sterile Processing departments today. Especially with the unprecedented use of sterilants used on PPE during this COVID-19 pandemic, this is an interview you're not going to want to miss. Tune in now!

As we age, we lose our visual acuity and this could have serious impacts on the instrument inspection process in Sterile Processing departments. Enhanced visual inspection is being talked about more and more-- and for good reason. On this week’s episode we talk with Cory Hanosh, President and Founder of Northstate Vision Technology to discuss the critical need for technology that sets our inspection process up for success. Cory talks about the risk of missing early warning signs of instrument defects and also gives his own recommendation on how SPD leaders can approach their administrators to gain access to purchasing dollars for enhanced visual inspection tools. Tune in now to get a clear look at visual inspection technology.

Often times the most obvious ways to improve are the hardest to see. That's why teams of all sizes, in all industries, can benefit from an outside perspective. On this week's episode, Hank and Justin speak with longtime perioperative consultant, Paul Wafer, about the importance of efficiency and communication within a surgical service team. Paul's unique approach has benefited thousands of hospital and surgery center teams through enacting simple changes that increase case accuracy and flow, ultimately providing a cohesive toolkit for Sterile Processing staff success. By increasing intentional communication and accountability between sterile processing and perioperative staff, Paul and the staff at Alpha Consulting Group are bringing proven tactics that the entire industry will benefit from. Tune in to this insightful interview with one of the field's leading minds on such a critical, if not the most critical, issue we all face!

Time is of the essence, and so is research- especially when it comes to residual protein on reprocessed instruments. In the United Kingdom, there's been strong concern about prion diseases within proteins. The Department of Health in the UK has been actively looking at, and concerned about, the numbers of people who are contaminated with variant CJD or have a high volume of amyloid protein which leads to Alzheimer's Disease. On this week's episode we talk with Mark Campbell, Decontamination Service Manager at the University Hospital of Wales in the UK who walks us through the protein residue research that he's been doing in coordination with the DOH and in his own department. Mark addresses a question on many department leaders' minds: if the data and research exists, what are the next steps that we can implement to combat this issue? Tune in now!

The Emergency Department has a unique set of needs when it comes to instrumentation. The quality of instruments in kits used in the ER can vary greatly -- a common pain point for physicians working in this department at many hospitals. On this week's episode we talk with Dr. Patrick O'Malley who has focused much of his time on researching reusable vs. disposable instruments and the frequent pain points that come with specific instruments common to the Emergency Department. Dr. O'Malley focuses on laceration repairs which can be compared to plastic surgery in the ER and he talks about the impact of instrument quality on the perception of effectiveness from a clinician's perspective. This is one you're not going to want to miss so tune in now!