111. Nominees for the HSPA Board of Directors - Angela Warner, Nicholas Day, and Stacey MacArthur
03/14/2024
111. Nominees for the HSPA Board of Directors - Angela Warner, Nicholas Day, and Stacey MacArthur
As an HSPA member, what issues need to be prioritized? How can the Board of Directors help solve these issues? HSPA Board of Directors nominees, Angela Warner, Nicholas Day, and Stacey MacArthur join Adam Okada on the Ask the Educator Podcast! Get to know each nominee and their goals before you cast
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110. Nominees for the HSPA Board of Directors: Joseph Avila, Tim Hurtado, and Tori Ruiz
03/01/2024
110. Nominees for the HSPA Board of Directors: Joseph Avila, Tim Hurtado, and Tori Ruiz
In this episode, we interview three distinguished nominees for the HSPA Board of Directors - Joseph Avila, Tim Hurtado, and Tori Ruiz. Join Kevin Anderson & Adam Okada as they uncover their unique perspectives on the industry and their visions to drive positive change. Listen to this podcast episode
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109. Interview with Arlene Bush, HSPA Presidential Nominee
02/29/2024
109. Interview with Arlene Bush, HSPA Presidential Nominee
Join Kevin Anderson and Adam Okada as they interview Arlene Bush, a nominee for the HSPA Board of Directors presidency. Arlene shares her career background, passions, and commitment to serving HSPA members. Tune in for an insightful conversation with one of this year’s nominees before you vote!  
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108. Arthroscopic Shavers – 2020 vs. 2024
02/22/2024
108. Arthroscopic Shavers – 2020 vs. 2024
One of the initial topics explored on the Ask the Educator Podcast was the complex issue of arthroscopic shavers and their cleaning and inspection procedures.Fast forward four years later, where do we stand? Have the essential enhancements been implemented, or are we confronted with recurring challe
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107. Getting Involved in Sterile Processing Mission Trips: Interview with Sean Weir
02/08/2024
107. Getting Involved in Sterile Processing Mission Trips: Interview with Sean Weir
In this episode of the Ask the Educator Podcast, we are joined by Sean Weir. Sean shares his passion for sterile processing and how he got involved in mission work. He is committed to helping others and has been involved in mission work for many years. He also shares some tips for those who are inte
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106. Ultrasonic Lumen Flushing: Is Yours Working?
01/25/2024
106. Ultrasonic Lumen Flushing: Is Yours Working?
We load our ultrasonic machines with laparoscopic and robotic instruments, and hopefully, we have the capability to attach them to our flushing mechanism. But how do you know if that flushing mechanism is working?Once the lid is closed, we really have no idea what goes on inside the machine, and as
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105. How to Kill Microorganisms with Sterilization
01/11/2024
105. How to Kill Microorganisms with Sterilization
Do you know how your sterilizer kills microorganisms? Or more importantly, do you know the mistakes that we make that could prevent them from being killed? Healthmark Industries Clinical Education Specialist, Malinda Elammari, illustrates how this sterilization process works.A follow-up to Healthmar
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104. What is the Cost of a Sterile Processing Error?
12/28/2023
104. What is the Cost of a Sterile Processing Error?
In sterile processing, we know that mistakes can be costly. But without hard data (and a monetary value) these errors are often abstract and hard to quantify, thus making them fade into the background of our minds.Gregory Agoston, from Specialty Care, may have found a solution! Listen in to learn mo
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103. Reprocessing Ultrasound Probes & Understanding Percutaneous Procedures
12/07/2023
103. Reprocessing Ultrasound Probes & Understanding Percutaneous Procedures
Are you reprocessing ultrasound probes in your sterile processing or endoscopy department? If so, are you aware of the percutaneous procedures that may be being performed utilizing these probes?Dr. Daniel Lightfoot (Nanosonics) joins the podcast to talk about reprocessing these ultrasound probes saf
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102. State Mandated Certification in Sterile Processing: A 20 Year Anniversary | PART 2
11/24/2023
102. State Mandated Certification in Sterile Processing: A 20 Year Anniversary | PART 2
It’s been 20 years since New Jersey and later New York were able to have legislation passed for mandatory certification in Sterile Processing. In those 20 years, only 3 other states have been successful at getting this type of legislation on the books. Why are so many others failing, where NJ & NY h
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101. State Mandated Certification in Sterile Processing: A 20 Year Anniversary
11/23/2023
101. State Mandated Certification in Sterile Processing: A 20 Year Anniversary
It’s been 20 years since New Jersey and later New York were able to have legislation passed for mandatory certification in Sterile Processing. In those 20 years, only 3 other states have been successful at getting this type of legislation on the books. Why are so many others failing, where NJ & NY h
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100. Ask the Educator's 100th Episode!!
11/09/2023
100. Ask the Educator's 100th Episode!!
We are celebrating Healthmark's 100th Podcast Episode! Kevin, Adam, Stephen and Malinda discuss the purpose of this podcast, look back at old episodes and plans for future episodes!Shoutout to all our listeners!! We appreciate you and hope to continue sharing our knowledge.Thanks for listening! Plea
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99. Sterile Processing Education Collaboration
10/26/2023
99. Sterile Processing Education Collaboration
Sterile processing managers and educators are often buried under day-to-day department tasks and solving unexpected problems. How can leaders find time for education? Michael Matthews (Agiliti) joins us to discuss resources SPD leaders can access to help them fulfill educational responsibilities!Tha
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98. AI and Automation Inspection for Sterile Processing & Endoscopy
10/12/2023
98. AI and Automation Inspection for Sterile Processing & Endoscopy
How ready is your department for the revolutionary changes that are coming with Artificial Intelligence (AI)? In this podcast episode, we’ll talk with the father of the modern borescope, Jahan Azizi, about how automation and AI are going to change the way we do our inspection steps. Can it really be
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97. Learning to Lead SPD as an OR Nurse: Interview with Aimee Space
09/28/2023
97. Learning to Lead SPD as an OR Nurse: Interview with Aimee Space
International guest, Aimee Space, joins Kevin Anderson on Healthmark's Ask the Educator podcast to discuss her career path in OR & SPD. Listen in as Aimee shares advice for all SPD professionals looking to climb the leadership ladder!
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96. Endoscope Reprocessing Training - an HSPA Sponsored Program
09/14/2023
96. Endoscope Reprocessing Training - an HSPA Sponsored Program
In endoscopy and sterile processing, we often run into the same issues. Training staff to do incredibly complex tasks, while they are under constant pressure to perform quickly. Stress often leads to mistakes, which then leads to hospital-acquired infections.What if there was a better way to perform
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95. SPD Stories from the Trenches
08/24/2023
95. SPD Stories from the Trenches
Each SPD has problem areas of their own, but have you ever wondered how facilities across the country might look or perform? Our Healthmark Education team has been all over the United States and has that insight into how we are doing as an industry...the results aren't always pretty.In this episode,
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94. Implementing an Endoscope Surveillance System
08/10/2023
94. Implementing an Endoscope Surveillance System
Do you know what is inside your flexible scopes? Microbial surveillance can tell you exactly what is living inside your scopes, but how can we implement that kind of program? Dr. Mary Ann Drosnock joins the podcast to share how we can create these types of programs at our facilities and help further
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93. What Do You Do When it's Not in the IFU?
07/27/2023
93. What Do You Do When it's Not in the IFU?
After a LinkedIn post made by our host, Kevin Anderson, about the importance of testing bipolar forceps for insulation integrity, our guest, Rebecca Peplau, commented about a scenario featuring a specific brand of bipolar forceps and how the SPD technicians were potentially damaging the forceps, jus
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92. Fire in the OR! Why Checking Cords for Integrity and Continuity is Important
07/13/2023
92. Fire in the OR! Why Checking Cords for Integrity and Continuity is Important
Have you ever had fire start in your SPD or OR? Or have you heard of a patient being burned by electrosurgical equipment? If FDA reports are any indication, most of us have experienced at least one of these events at some point in our careers. So how does this happen in such a controlled and secure
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91. Where is Your 'Why'?
06/08/2023
91. Where is Your 'Why'?
In many processing departments too, much emphasis is placed purely on repetition as the means educating the staff. Unfortunately, this leaves many processing professional ill equipped to make good decisions when problems arise. In these moments, when critical thinking is required, staff members whos
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90. What is PB70 and the Protective Barriers Committee?
05/25/2023
90. What is PB70 and the Protective Barriers Committee?
Have you ever had a decontamination gown soak through to your scrubs? Have you been splashed from the back side at the sink? Listen in to this episode to learn more about PB70. Co-chairs Cheron Rojo & Jill Holdsworth will explain what PB70 is and how the Protective Barriers Committee is looking to k
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89. ST98: New Guidelines for Manufacturer Cleaning Validation
03/22/2023
89. ST98: New Guidelines for Manufacturer Cleaning Validation
You may be familiar with ST79 (steam sterilization) and ST91 (flexible endoscopes), but have you heard about ST98: Cleaning validation for healthcare products?AAMI veteran Ralph Basile guides through what the new guidelines state about how manufacturers should be testing their devices to ensure clea
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88.  ST91 - Part 6 of 6: Informative Annexes
03/08/2023
88. ST91 - Part 6 of 6: Informative Annexes
Whether you're a veteran of flexible endoscope processing, or brand new to the field, this podcast series on ST91 is designed for you!In this episode with guest John Whelan, we discuss ST91 and the informative annexes at the back of the document. What do you do when the IFU’s for the scope don’t mat
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