Beyond Clean Podcast

The Laparoscopic Challenge - One Man's Mission for a Safer World

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What would you do if you had no decontamination room, no access to low-cost, reliable electricity and water, and a handful of laparoscopic devices to ...

Administrators - Creating Powerful Advocates for Sterile Processing Teams

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Would your hospital administrators recognize you in the hallway? When is the last time you saw your CEO take a stroll through your Sterile Processing ...

Bigger Than Us: What it Really Means to Build an Industry Worth Loving

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What causes one person to take pride in their job, and someone else to treat it like just a paycheck? When you drill down to the very core of a Steril...

Superbugs be Gone: New FDA Clearance for Terminal Endoscope Sterilization

15 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Picture it: you turn on the news and the top story reads: "infectious outbreak linked to hospital and clinic endoscopes."  Let the media storm and re...

RedCap Quality - A Story of Technology, Creativity, and Accountability in SPD

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Broken processes, communication breakdowns with the Operating Room, and rising frustrations – sound like a challenge you are facing in your Sterile...

Raising the Disinfection Bar

08 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Everywhere we go, whether it is out to dinner, to the grocery store, or the hair salon-- we expect these establishments have invested in safe cleaning...

Target Acquired - What is Really Required for Endoscope Tracking & Tracing

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Could you prove your flexible endoscope was properly cleaned, processed, and stored for every scope, every patient, every time? Would it be a scrambl...

Fighting Dirty: The Sterile Processing Staffing Crisis

30 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Conversation with Jim Carlock, author of "Looming Sterile Processing Staffing Crisis Requires Action Now". You can read his article on the Beyond Clea...

Real Talk: Dear Administrators...Never enough time?

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"There's never enough time to do it right, but there's always enough time to do it again." In this episode Bob addresses the Administrators in the hos...

60-Second Growth Spurt: Set and Achieve SMART Goals

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Whether it's a list of excuses, a sincere lack of time, or the fact that our goals are too big and broad to even know where to start, all of these thi...

Driving Dental Compliance Through Comprehensive Instrument Management

11 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine sitting in the dentist chair waiting for your teeth cleaning when a staff member walks in with a tray of  unwrapped instruments. If you are l...

Fighting Dirty: How long should you have to work in an industry before you can express an opinion about it?

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"I believe the closer our industry moves toward rewarding fresh opinions, the more of them we will see in our frontline technicians, leaders, and inno...

Visualize Quality: Equipping your Sterile Processing Teams with the EndoPro-Cam

04 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Picture this: You are assembling a tray; the phone rings and it is the operating room with news that the rigid scope they are using on a patient isn't...

Real Talk: FDA & Emergency Use Authorizations

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode Bob talks about about the Emergency Use Authorizations through the FDA during the pandemic and the implications of reusing and re-ster...

60-Second Growth Spurt: Changing Department Culture

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this third installment on managing change, Lindsay discusses easy ways to incrementally work toward changing overall department culture. How can le...

The Case for Usage Based Repair

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How often should your surgical instruments be repaired? Should your repair partner be on-site every week or should it all depend on your facility usag...

Fighting Dirty: The Platform for Sterile Processing Passion - Themes that Push Our Industry Forward

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What needs to be said about the #SterileProcessing industry that hasn't been said yet? Who's voice needs a platform to share their passion for the mis...

The Confidence to Care: Strategic CS Leadership

16 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Should CS leaders care what their employees think of them? What are the common ways new leaders fail themselves and their teams? On this episode 7 of ...

Real Talk: Overloaded Instrument Sets

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode Bob talks about a common issue experienced by many healthcare facilities--overloaded instrument sets. What are the implications of thi...

Fear Not? The Good and Bad of Sterile Processing Consultants

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"The consultants are coming, the consultants are coming!" Does that phrase give you a pit in your stomach or tell you that help is on the way? On this...

60-Second Growth Spurt: Asking for less to get more

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Managing change is complicated and sometimes in order to make a big ask and influence an overall shift in behavior or attitude, small steps are most e...

The Science of Endoscope Cleaning Research

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Who on earth designed this cleaning chemical? And why did they do it that way? Well, we're glad you asked. On this episode 5 of Beyond Clean Season 10...

Fighting Dirty: In-Department Education - Inservices, Podcasts, and Training

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to host successful in-department education for your Sterile Processing team? Are you tapping into all the available tools and resour...

Dental Reprocessing Insider: Unique Challenges and Real Success

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Reprocessing dental instruments can look quite different at each facility-- from the layout and design to who is responsible for reprocessing.  On th...

Real Talk: Healthcare Manufacturers Pivoting to Meet Our Needs

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode Bob talks about the ways in which healthcare manufacturers have changed the way they've supported the industry during this time of COV...

Reprocessing in the United Arab Emirates: A Story of Pandemic, Leadership & Innovation

19 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Each of our facilities and Sterile Processing departments experienced and responded to the recent global pandemic in different ways. Our abilities to ...

60-Second Growth Spurt: Influencing & Implementing Change

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Change is hard. And in Sterile Processing, change is the one thing that is constant. So how do you persuade a change in behavior or a shift in thinkin...

Learning to Love Lean and Improve our Industry

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You may have heard the word "Lean" thrown around by consultants and administrators in your hospital, but what does it have to do with Sterile Processi...

Fighting Dirty: The Simple Reasons your SPD Needs a Supervisor

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's not rocket science and yet many hospital administrators just don't get it -- Sterile Processing departments need SUPERVISORS! AAMI ST79:2017 reco...

From Neurosurgeon to Certified Sterile Processing Technician

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why would a neurosurgeon decide to pursue certification in the Sterile Processing industry? What happened in this surgeon's career to turn his eyes an...

Beyond Clean Live: UV Disinfection in the OR & Sterile Processing

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

More and more healthcare facilities around the globe are looking closer at, or upgrading their fleet of, UV technology. This LIVE broadcast will talk ...

Without Question: Ground-breaking Study on Failures in Endoscope Reprocessing

25 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Reprocessing flexible endoscopes is a challenging task that begs the question: is it finally time for a paradigm shift in endoscope reprocessing? Base...

Real Talk: Getting Real About PPE Shortages

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Bob discusses the frustration surrounding PPE shortages and asks the necessary question -- what are we going to do to prevent this in ...

Ready, AIM, Automate! The Next Generation of Sterile Processing Automation

18 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are things that people do well and things that machines do well. By combining those two, we get the optimal result of a collaboration between hu...

60-Second Growth Spurt: Becoming A Dynamic Speaker

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you have been leading your team, you're comfortable speaking in front of a group, and you have information to share that will help reshape the indu...

Fighting Dirty: Get Rid of the Rust - Stop the Compromise & Protect Your Patients

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Moment of truth here: Do you have any rusty instruments in your surgical trays? No, let's be honest. And if you have seen rusty instruments, what is s...

Real Talk: Surgical Volume Increases: Is Your Department Ready?

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, Bob talks about that inevitable day when surgical volumes increase due to elective surgeries coming back on the books. Bob sha...

60-Second Growth Spurt: Non-Verbal Communication

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We can control what we say and how we say it but, as it turns out, our audience will pay more attention to the "how" than the "what". This is the seco...

Study, Share, Save the World: Writing & Research in Sterile Processing

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When you hear the word "research" what comes to mind? Cure for cancer? New sources of renewable energy? How about better ways of decontaminating surgi...

Fighting Dirty: The World (of Education) is Bigger than CE Approval

19 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is that presentation CE approved? How many continuing education credits is it worth? Why on earth are these the first questions for so many of us in t...

Lights, Camera, Recognition: Telling the Sterile Processing Story

17 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why does it matter that patients in the OR waiting room know the name "Sterile Processing" and have an idea of how our teams contribute to their safe ...

Real Talk: Proactive vs. Reactive Instrument Set Quality

12 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, Bob touches on the valuable improvements that can be made to instrument sets in a proactive manner rather than a reactive one ...

GI-Scope: US, EU, and the Battle for Safer Endoscopes

10 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists, engineers, and manufacturers across the globe are racing to find answers to the challenges facing endoscope reprocessing in the 21st centu...

From Chaos to Consistency: Simple Solutions for Vendor Management

07 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In a perfect world, vendors and manufacturers would consult with both Sterile Processing and Operating Room professionals as they build their products...

60-Second Growth Spurt: Leading Through A Crisis

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

By nature of working in healthcare, experiencing a crisis in some form is inevitable. When you're called to lead, there are a few things to consider. ...

The Time of Your (Shelf) Life: Event Related & Time Related Sterile Storage

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Few topics are as debated in Sterile Processing circles today as the topic of "event related sterility" and packaging shelf life. If packaging has a s...

Anatomy of an IFU: What it all really means

31 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are three different instructions for use that need to be considered when preparing a medical device for sterilization: the sterilizer, the medic...

Fighting Dirty: Don't Let Surgical Site Infection Data Silence Your Sterile Processing Needs

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do you respond to hospital administrators or surgical leaders who brush aside your Sterile Processing requests or recommendations because your fac...

Viruses and the Technicians Who Kill Them

27 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sterile Processing technicians have been on the frontlines of the fight against viruses long before anyone ever heard of COVID-19. In fact, there are ...

Sterile Storage Wars: Winning the Battle for Space in Sterile Processing

24 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When someone asks if storage is an issue for your Sterile Processing department, what is your first response…to roll your eyes perhaps? But what if ...

Real Talk: Sterile Processing Impact on Infections

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, Bob discusses Sterile Processing professionals' impact on infections. Bob hops on his favorite soapbox to discuss how importan...

ANSI/AAMI ST58:2013 | Chemical Sterilization & HLD

20 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of the Beyond Clean podcast, we dust off that library in your manager's office to take a look at a one particular document you may hav...

60-Second Growth Spurt: Presenting without speaking

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that you don't have to be a "speaker" to present valuable information? Join Lindsay for today's #GrowthSpurt to learn about simple ways y...

The Goal is Zero: An IUSS Success Story

13 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One may be the "loneliest number" in the lyrics of the classic rock band Three Dog Night, but zero is the number Sterile Processing professionals love...

Fighting Dirty: Don't Rush the Brush - Patients Deserve Every Second of Safety

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How many of you have ever read a brushing IFU for one of your instruments and wondered to yourself, "Who spends 60 seconds actually doing nothing by b...

All Together Now: Sterile Processing Centralization

06 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

All for one and one for all isn't just a slogan for the growing number of centralized reprocessing centers in the United States. More and more Sterile...

Real Talk: On Turning to Social Media for Answers

01 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, Bob dives into the topic of finding answers (right or wrong) through social media groups. What are the critical things to cons...

Joel Schafer: Autoclave Testing & Validation - The Science of Sterile

29 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the backbone of most Sterile Processing workflows around the globe, steam sterilization is a massively important topic. And yet there are still per...

60-Second Growth Spurt: Easing Stress

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Laughter is the best medicine and brings with it a host of business benefits that can benefit your staff and your department. Join Lindsay for today's...

Daniel Coole: All You Ever Wanted to Know about Stainless Steel

22 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Few materials in the world have come to define a Sterile Processing professional more than stainless steel. We are literally surrounded by it – our ...

Safety at the Source: Eliminating Airborne Pathogens from OR HVAC

19 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The words 'biofilm' and 'disinfection' are commonly used in Sterile Processing departments, but did you know these terms are also applicable when talk...

Fighting Dirty: The Beyond Clean Story - Be Brave & Do Big Things

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How did two guys who had never met, living on opposite sides of the country create a podcast what would take the Sterile Processing industry by storm ...

Phil Sayles: Digitalization of Surgical Implant Management

15 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Can you account for every implant screw and plating system within the four walls of your hospital? Can your Sterile Processing team efficiently and co...

The Automated Road to Safety: A Conversation about TEE Probe Reprocessing

12 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

TEE probe cleaning and handling is a hot topic of conversation, especially as more and more Sterile Processing professionals continue to reach out to ...

Real Talk: Sterilization Success - Sterile Storage

10 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, Bob continues his series on the sterilization process and talks specifically about the critical components of sterile storage....

Dr. Christine Greene: Debunking the ATP Test and Collaborating for Clean

08 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Are your ATP tests measuring what you think they are measuring? What is the real relationship between residual protein, dangerous bugs, and our missio...

Air Matters: A Focus on Humidity and Temperature Solutions in Healthcare

05 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the healthcare setting, air matters. Humidity control is challenging, risky, and has big implications on patient safety and air quality is at the f...

60-Second Growth Spurt: Reading the Room

03 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Someday you may be asked to speak in front of your coworkers or members of another hospital department or even your peers at a conference. This is the...

Lisa Wakeman: Getting Right to The Point of Use

01 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There is one theme that shows up in nearly EVERY surgical instrument quality breakdown headline to come out in recent years. That reoccurring theme is...

How to Respond to Increased Surgical Volumes Post-COVID-19

29 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If someone told you there is a way to process a total knee set in 1 hour 23 minutes vs. 4 hours and 7 minutes, would you hesitate? The tune of the con...

Fighting Dirty: How to Leverage Sterile Processing Newsletters

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do you get your Sterile Processing department's successes, updates, and requests in front of your hospital CEO, CNO, CFO, surgeons, Operating Room...

Sterile Processing and Perioperative Efficiency with Paul Wafer

25 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 per...

Real Talk: Sterilization Success: Unloading the Sterilizer

20 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, Bob continues his series on the sterilization process and talks specifically about unloading the sterilizer. What are the crit...

Fighting Dirty Together with Melissa Morgan

18 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The mission of Sterile Processing is not one that can be accomplished alone. We need people throughout our healthcare facilities to back us, to suppor...

N95 Reprocessing in Sterile Processing: Critical Insights on Masks

14 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have questions about N95 mask reprocessing in your Sterile Processing department? Things like, "Why is cellulose such a big deal when seeking t...

60-Second Growth Spurt: Curating Connections

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Lindsay talks about the importance of surrounding yourself with people who will encourage you, support you and help you grow as a pro...

ER Instrument Quality with Dr. Patrick O'Malley

11 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 greatl...

COVID-19 Impact Series: Kate Lee | OR Director & Navy Reservist | Florida & NYC

07 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this release of the Beyond Clean "COVID-19 Impact Series", we speak with Kate Lee, a director of Surgical Services in Florida and active Navy Reser...

Fighting Dirty: A Heart-to-Heart about "Glorified Dishwashers"

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to light a fuse under a Sterile Processing technician, call them a "glorified dishwasher." Few things seem to get under our skin quicker t...

Safety You Can See with featured guest Cory Hanosh

04 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As we age, we lose our visual acuity and this could have serious impacts on the instrument inspection process in Sterile Processing departments. Enhan...

Real Talk: Sterilization Success - The Must-Haves Part 2

29 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, Bob breaks down the sterilization process and talks specifically about load preparation as it pertains to peel packs, wrapped ...

Sterile Processing Research Survey with Peter Nichol, MD

27 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you were given the opportunity to make a significant impact on the sustainability of the Sterile Processing industry as a profession, would you tak...

60-Second Growth Spurt: An Introduction

22 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This video is an introduction to a new Beyond Clean YouTube series called 60-Second Growth Spurt. As sterile processing professionals, you are asked t...

Residual Protein Research with Mark Campbell

20 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 be...

The Invisible Threat: Chemical Monitoring in Sterile Processing

17 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What do Hydrogen Peroxide, Ethylene Oxide and Peracetic Acid have in common? They are all designed to kill and ChemDAQ Inc. is the innovator b...

Fighting Dirty: #SterileProcessing - A Crash Course On Industry Social Media

15 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Have you noticed the growing wave of Sterile Processing social media content coming out over the last few years? Are you following the conversations o...

A Breath of Safe Air with David Hilliker

13 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The chemicals used to sterilize medical devices are near-odorless and are designed to kill all life. Front line sterilization technicians have every r...

Real Talk: Sterilization Success - The Must-Haves Part 1

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, Bob breaks down the sterilization process and talks about the must-have preventative maintenance and load configuration detail...

Contaminated Implants with Dr. Aakash Agarwal

06 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Does current surgical site infection data account for the reality of contaminated implants? What kind of research has been done around the safety of i...

When Disruption Meets Innovation- A Vendor Spotlight with Innovative Sterilization Technologies/ONE TRAY

03 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One of the best decisions to make as a healthcare professional is an informed decision and when it comes to disruptive technology, that is the only wa...

COVID-19 Impact Series: Julia Jackson, CST, MED, FAST | Infection Preventionist | Michigan

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this release of the Beyond Clean "COVID-19 Impact Series", we speak with Julia Jackson, CST, MED, FAST, an infection preventionist in Michigan abou...

COVID-19 Impact Series: Larry Muscarella | Independent Safety Expert | Pennsylvania

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this release of the Beyond Clean "COVID-19 Impact Series", we speak with Larry Muscarella, an independent safety expert in Pennsylvania about what ...

COVID-19 Impact Series: Gary Socola | Validation Testing & Lab Services | New York

01 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this release of the Beyond Clean "COVID-19 Impact Series", we speak with Gary Socola, President of HIGHPOWER Validation Testing & Lab Services in N...

COVID-19 Impact Series: Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, CIC | Infection Preventionist | Arizona

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this release of the Beyond Clean "COVID-19 Impact Series", we speak with Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, CIC, an infection preventionist in Arizona about what ...

Probing Question: Disinfection Answers for Ultrasound Probes

30 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We've likely all found ourselves wishing that technology and processes would more quickly adapt to the ever-changing needs of facilities and patients ...

COVID-19 Impact Series: Dr. Patrick O'Malley | Emergency Physician | South Carolina

26 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this release of the Beyond Clean "COVID-19 Impact Series", we speak with Dr. Patrick O'Malley, an emergency physician in South Carolina about what ...

RFID: The Changing Landscape of Surgical Instrument Tracking

23 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to total optimization of instrument trays and inventory management, it's nearly impossible to have this conversation without talking abo...

Bonus Episode - Preventing Contaminated Devices in Light of COVID-19

20 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What does the COVID-19 coronavirus have to do with the Sterile Processing department? Will this pandemic change the everyday workflow of our reprocess...

STERILE SCOPES: The Final Frontier of Endoscope Reprocessing- Jenni Gibbs

16 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There's an incredible amount of research that has been presented on and published the last 10 years about the dangers associated with improper reproce...

A Chemical Education- Vendor Spotlight with Certol International

13 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to implementing reliable consistent chemicals to do the dirtiest jobs in sterile processing, few names rise to the top like Certol Inter...