Beyond Clean Podcast

The Origin Story of Instrument Quality: Making Rongeurs That Stand the Test of Time

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When our industry talks about "instrument quality," what do we really mean? What does that quality standard actually give us? And where does it actu...

So you Want to Write a Blog Post? The Normal Person's Guide to Great Sterile Processing Content

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this CE-approved release of Articles-On-The-Go, Hank Balch talks about how you (yes, you!) can start creating sterile processing content of your ve...

Surgical Instruments & the Data Every Surgeon Wants

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Data makes the world go 'round when it comes to investment in Sterile Processing for staffing, equipment, and other resources. But what kind of data d...

No Cookie Cutter Approach: Part 3 | Expert Series On-The-Go

28 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "No Cookie Cutter Approach: Part 3". To hea...

Facts vs Fiction: Exposing the Myths Surrounding UV-C Disinfection

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What have you heard about UV-C Disinfection? Are all low-level disinfection devices created equally? Find out the truth about UV-C disinfection in thi...

Need it Now: Understanding Trauma Surgery & Instrument Needs

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How does Sterile Processing remove the drama from trauma? Whether it is locating that one-of-a-kind set or turning over trays on the tightest timeline...

How to Reduce Vendor Trays | Expert Series On-The-Go

21 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "How to Reduce Vendor Trays". To hear more ...

Guide to Success: Become Audit Ready with the SPM™ Endo Workflow Solution

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do you ensure your endoscopes are procedure and audit-ready, going beyond the simple tracking of endoscopes across your facility? What if you had ...

Dealing with Drama in Sterile Processing: Important Thoughts on Team Dynamics

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch takes a hard look at department drama and how to address it: -- "Personal matters asid...

Teaching the Future Surgeon: Learning to Love Instruments

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ever heard the phrase, "It takes one to know one?" Well, in the case of Dr. George Cybulski, Associate Professor Of Surgery at St. George's University...

The SPD Detective: Finding Clues in Chemical Labels - Part 1 | Expert Series On-The-Go

14 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "The SPD Detective: Finding Clues in Chemic...

Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Why Sterile Processors Love Facebook

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why are Sterile Processing groups on Facebook so popular? What makes us as an industry so hungry for community & connection? In this CE-approved r...

Tiny Lives, Tiny Instruments: The Pediatric Perspective

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When tiny lives are in the operating room, the superhero partnership between sterile processing and pediatric surgery makes a truly lifelong differenc...

Routine Monitoring: What Should I Know? | Expert Series On-The-Go

07 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Routine Monitoring: What Should I Know?". ...

CSPD's Untapped Potential: The Real Opportunities in Inventory & Vendor Management

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in, then click here to take your Surgio test drive! https://www.surgio.com/offers/test-drive // Is it possible to have true alignment between ...

The Dangerously Dirty Secret of Sterile Processing Contract/Traveling

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles-On-The-Go, Hank examines the reasons, risks, and potential reward of the Sterile Processing traveling/agency d...

The Art & Science of Surgery: Confronting the Burden of Perfection

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What's going on in the minds of our surgeons when the patient rolls in, and they take hold of the scalpel for their first incision? If we better und...

No Cookie Cutter Approach: Part 2 | Expert Series On-The-Go

31 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "No Cookie Cutter Approach - Part 2". To he...

When It's My Surgery: Fear, Trust, and Our Sterile Processing Moment

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles-On-The-Go, Hank Balch examines what it's like to be on the "other" side of the instrument, and to experience s...

Surgery Starts Here: Communicating the Real Value of Sterile Processing

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How can your Sterile Processing department move a directionless group of people with ineffective processes and a shortage of reprocessed instruments t...

What's In Your Peel Pack? | Expert Series On-The-Go

24 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "What's In Your Peel Pack?". To hear more f...

Sterilization Scare: 5 Lessons We Must Learn from Porter Adventist Hospital

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved episode of Articles-On-The-Go, listen as Hank Balch spells out the lessons that should be learned from headline grabbing quality b...

Marching to Zero: Leadership, Vision, and SPD Success

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How many unsterile trays are waiting for you every morning when you arrive in Sterile Processing? Do you feel like you're always playing catch-up, but...

SPD and OR Teams Must Create A United Front | Expert Series On-The-Go

17 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "SPD and OR Teams Must Create A United Fron...

Perfect Wash Control System: A complete and automated cleaning monitoring system for SPD/CSSD

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you avoid human error within your critical Sterile Processing workflows? What can you do today to improve traceability and reduce time spent wa...

So You Want to Be a Sterile Processing Manager: How to Get There and What to Expect

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this CE-approved episode of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch discusses the road to becoming a department leader and how to best navigate it: -- "If t...

Accountable for Change: Collaborating Between Supply Chain & SPD

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In many healthcare facilities, Sterile Processing departments fall under the reporting structure of perioperative services. The same cannot be said at...

Putting the Puzzle Together for Point of Use Pre-Cleaning Compliance - Part 2 | Expert Series On-The-Go

10 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Putting the Puzzle Together for Point of U...

The Processing Powerhouse: Containers that Operate with Greater Precision

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With features that help streamline processes and reduce the possibility of wet sets, Aesculap's next generation rigid container is everything you'd ex...

An Unwilling Conspiracy of Silence: Confronting the Industry Secret of Non-Compliance

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE approved release of Articles On-The-Go, we confront the industry secret of non-compliance. Are you really following ALL of the your manuf...

The Epicenter of Excellence: Sterile Processing Centralization (Conference of Champions Special Release)

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is it possible for one Sterile Processing department to support the daily decontamination, assembly, and sterilization needs of an entire healthcare s...

The D60 Story: 60 Seconds to Disinfect ENT Scopes Using UV Technology

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

[Listen & download the BONUS content!] Validated disinfection of channel-less endoscopes & TEE probes without water or chemicals all in less than 60 s...

The Victims Downstairs: Surgeon Bullies, and the Untold Sterile Processing Story

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, listen as Hank explains the common experiences of OR bullies and what you can do about it: "For all...

Connections & Quality: The Power of SPD Partnerships (Conference of Champions Special Release)

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is the power of creating partnerships in the perioperative setting? How do these partnerships impact Sterile Processing success and quality of pa...

No Cookie Cutter Approach - Part 1 | Expert Series On-The-Go

26 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "No Cookie Cutter Approach: Part 1". To hea...

10 Ways Hospitals Put their Patients and Sterile Processing Departments at Risk

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, listen as Hank underlines the top 10 ways hospitals put their patients and Sterile Processing Depar...

Ready or Not: Accreditation Risks around Instrument Safety

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's… a Joint Commission Surveyor! Accreditation happens every three years, but we prepare for it every day. Will your ne...

Where's My Indicator? | Expert Series On-The-Go

19 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Where's My Indicator?". To hear more from ...

The Evidence of Clean: Bristles, Bioburden & the Better Brush

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Effective endoscopy cleaning is one of the greatest challenges of modern instrument reprocessing. Superbugs and healthcare acquired infections (HAI) ...

90 Days of Sterile Processing Glory: Taking Dominion of CS/SPD Onboarding

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, listen as Hank equips fearless leaders with the "weapons" of on-boarding to make successful and fie...

Creating a Surgical Safe Space: Tray Setups & Instrument Protection

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is there such a thing as the perfectly set up tray? One that protects your instruments, makes the OR jump for joy, and above all, keeps the patients w...

Understanding Different Types of Repair Programs - Conclusion | Expert Series On-The-Go

12 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Understanding Different Types of Repair Pr...

Seeking Safer Probes: The Ultimate Tool in Automating Ultrasound Quality

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The world of safely & compliantly managing ultrasound probe inventory is no easy feat. Manual leak testing is excessively time-consuming, and the lac...

Every Heart and Mind: 4 Crucial Tips for Cultivating "Mission-Believers" in your SPD

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, listen as Hank describes how to cultivate technicians that believe in your department's mission: "d...

The Twists & Turns of Scope Quality: A Guided Reprocessing Journey

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Scopes are some of the most expensive devices we have in our inventory -- both flexible and rigid models. So, when these devices break or need replaci...

How Do I Know It's Sterile? | Expert Series On-The-Go

05 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "How Do I Know It's Sterile?". To hear more...

Instrument Quality: Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow

04 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With over 150+ years in the surgical instrument manufacturing & repair business, Aesculap knows a thing or two about what it takes to solve the everyd...

Back to School- An Insider's Guide to Being a Student & an A+ Sterile Processing Tech

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, listen as Hank outlines best practices for balancing school & a Sterile Processing career: "As with...

From Prep & Pack to Hospital President: When One of Us Makes it to the C-Suite

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You know that technician right beside you in decontamination today? Yeah, that one breaking a sweat as they keep up with the 20 add-on cases that just...

Putting the Puzzle Together for Point-of-Use Pre-Cleaning Compliance: Part 1 | Expert Series On-The-Go

29 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Putting the Puzzle Together for Point-of-U...

The SPD Trifecta: Overcoming Reprocessing Challenges...Together

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nothing that happens in our Sterile Processing departments happens in a silo -- especially when it comes to the reprocessing workflow of our surgical...

Against the CC Shotgun (And Other Email Etiquette Tips for CS/SPD Leaders)

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch highlights one of those email faux pas you should avoid in SPD leadership: the CC Shotgu...

Instrumental Culture: What it Takes to Hold the Line in SPD

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do broken cultures inevitably lead to broken instruments? Does lack of trust between the Sterile Processing & Operating Room teams lead to lack of tim...

How to Lead a CS/SPD Meeting --#LikeABoss

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, Hank Balch recalls what it was like leading his first SPD staff meeting and recounts some lessons t...

Empowered by Data: Instrument Inventory Solutions For the 21st Century

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What impact does surgical instrument data have on the real-world challenges we face daily in Sterile Processing? Is it possible to increase efficienc...

Safety in Numbers: Leveraging Data & Collaboration to Centralize Sterile Processing

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Off-site reprocessing and centralization is one of the hottest topics in the Sterile Processing industry today. With all the planning and coordination...

Case Cart Considerations | Expert Series On-The-Go

15 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Case Cart Considerations". To hear more fr...

The Patient-Ready Imperative: Smarter Device Ownership & Greater Clinical Value

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frontline clinicians and the patients they support cannot afford to encounter non-functional instrumentation and equipment in the surgical workflow. ...

Don't Just Do Something, Stand There!

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, learn about how successful leadership sometimes looks like taking a step back from the daily flurry...

The Prerequisites for Quality: Safe Surgery Starts Here

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The big parts of instrument safety are kind of obvious. Buy high quality instruments. Treat them well. Thoroughly inspect every time. But what about ...

Peel Pack Storage | Expert Series On-The-Go

08 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Peel Pack Storage". To hear more from this...

The MVPs of Instrument Inspection

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you take a close look around you the next time you're in the middle of a Sterile Processing department, there are so many things around you that ca...

Social Media Overdrive - How to Get the Most Out of Your SPD Linkedin Presence

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, learn about how to use Linkedin to benefit yourself, your career, and your future as a Sterile Proc...

Put Your Quality Where Your Tray Is: A Conversation on Excellent QA'ing

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Quality assurance in Sterile Processing is more than a process to hardwire instrument safety. Sometimes it's an actual job description. On this Seaso...

The Golden Rule: Timely Advice for Endoscopy Pre-Cleaning | Expert Series On-The-Go

01 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "The Golden Rule: Timely Advice for Endosco...

Don't Let Vendors Monopolize Your Storage Space - How to Get your SPD Out of (Consignment) Jail

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, tune in for encouragement around taking control of out-of-control consignment inventory in your Ste...

Vendor Policy Challenges: Part 2 - The Vendor Perspective | Expert Series On-The-Go

24 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Vendor Policy Challenges: Part 2 - The Ven...

In the Beginning: Users Speak on Ten Years of ONE TRAY®

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nothing compares to true clinical user insight on how, where, and when a medical device fits into the workflow of our surgical teams. After all, clin...

3 Reasons Why Self Awareness is the Holy Grail of Career Growth in Sterile Processing - Know Thyself

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Articles On-The-Go, learn why self-awareness is key to unlocking career growth in Sterile Processing: "Career growth does not happe...

Understanding Different Types of Repair Programs - Part 2 | Expert Series On-The-Go

17 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Understanding Different Types of Repair Pr...

Journey By Vaporization | Expert Series On-The-Go

10 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Journey By Vaporization". To hear more fro...

Special Release: A Shoe-in for Surgical Influence - Personal Branding & the Excellent Rep

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week we dropped the #SterileProcessing industry's first ever LinkedIn Audio™ interview with none other than Johnny Caffaro, the medical device ...

"Well, I Didn't See That One Coming" - 5 Secrets to Dealing With Surprise Resignations in SPD

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, tune in for thoughts on preparing yourself and your team for surprise resignations in Sterile Proce...

How Could "Pay for Productivity" Change the Game for Your SPD Team?

03 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this CE-approved release of Articles On-The-Go, tune in for insights on shaking up the compensation model in Sterile Processing to reward high perf...

Suture Storage Struggles | Expert Series On-The-Go

03 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Suture Storage Struggles". To hear more fr...

What's News is Old: An FDA Letter Update with ONE TRAY®

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With over 4 million uses in the surgical setting and zero known adverse events for the 9-year history of the device, the safety of the ONE TRAY® c...