Shows
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastThe New Bridge Effect: Transforming Lives Through Sterile Processing EducationSend a textThree sterile processing professionals share their journeys through New Bridge Cleveland's program and how it transformed their careers and lives. Their diverse backgrounds and experiences highlight the opportunities in this crucial healthcare field, from challenging externships to long-term career aspirations.• Participants include Charmaine (25), currently working in sterile processing; Bobby (45), who transitioned from 23 years in warehouses; and Jaden, preparing for externship• Personal motivations ranged from advancing healthcare education to setting an example for family members• All praised New Bridge's comprehensive education, hands-on training, and exceptional mentorship from instructors who remain accessible after...
2026-02-1219 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastWalking Into Sterile Processing: What You’ll See, Who You’ll Meet, Why It MattersSend a textWe welcome new externs into sterile processing with a clear path: who you’ll meet, what you’ll hear and see, and how the workflow protects every patient. We share the zones, the expectations, and the habits that turn first-day nerves into reliable practice.• meeting your preceptor, technicians, supervisors, and OR staff• what you will observe on day one• sounds and safety culture in the department• decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and storage zones• shifting from observing to assisting to performing• punctuality and professionalism expectations• reading SOPs and understanding the...
2026-02-1203 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastYou finished the coursework—now learn how your work protects every patientSend a textSupport the show
2026-02-1207 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastMicro Series: Ep 1 Break In, Stand Out in Sterile ProcessingSend a textWe launch a focused micro series on breaking into sterile processing with a clear path from student to paid pro. We share mindset shifts, externship strategies, networking moves, and practical habits that managers recognize and reward.• treating externships as long interviews• building a success portfolio with daily documentation• punctuality, professionalism, and attitude as hiring signals• finding mentors and asking for one actionable tip• using HSPA, CBSPD, and local events to network• engaging on LinkedIn with useful, humble posts• turning feedback into measurable improvements• staying connected with thank-you n...
2026-02-1211 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastThrough The Writer’s Lens: How Storytelling Raises SPD’s ProfileSend a textWe sit down with journalist and communications strategist Kara Nadeau to explore how storytelling elevates sterile processing from unseen task to respected profession. Real cases, practical advice, and clear language show how SPD can win influence, resources, and safer care.• Karen’s path from PR to medical journalism • Discovery of SPD’s complexity and impact • Recognition gap and why words matter • Case study on flash sterilization and harm • Using stories and data to influence leaders • Building alliances with perioperative and IP • Branding SPD as a profession, not a job • Practic...
2026-02-1230 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastThrough The Writer’s Lens: Giving SPD A VoiceSend a textWe sit down with healthcare writer and strategist Kara Nadeau to explore how story, language, and data elevate sterile processing from unseen labor to essential clinical practice. Her insights show why words shape budgets, why collaboration changes outcomes, and how every SPD professional can be heard.• Kara’s journey from PR to medical technology journalism• Discovering the complexity and stakes of sterile processing• A lawsuit that underscores why SPD standards matter• Trends toward recognition and stronger SPD voices• Closing the expertise–respect gap with stories and data• Building periope...
2026-02-1227 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastFaith In Action with Randalyn HerraldSend a textSupport the show
2025-12-1535 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastPurpose, Patterns, and People: Finding Your Calling in Sterile Processing with Art Babiy"Send a textIn this inspiring episode, we sit down with consultant, mentor, and sterile processing leader Art Babiy to explore how sterile processing becomes more than just a job—it becomes a calling. From early setbacks and a personal infection story to a thriving career in consulting and mentoring, Art shares how consistency, commitment, coachability, and faith can transform not only your work but your life.We dive deep into the mindset, skills, and heart it takes to excel in the sterile processing field—from recognizing patterns that solve problems to s...
2025-10-2234 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastHow HSPA Memberships/Chapters Fuel Careers In Sterile ProcessingSend a textSupport the show
2025-10-2044 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastProfessionalism in Sterile Processing: How Appearance, Timing, and Words Protect PatientsSend a textSupport the show
2025-10-1705 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastHeat, Pressure, Precision: The Making Of A Confident Sterile ProcessorSend a textWhat if the best metaphor for your sterile processing career is the making of a surgical instrument? We take you from raw steel to ready-for-surgery and map each step to the real pressures, choices, and habits that turn beginners into trusted professionals.We start with selection—the reason high-grade stainless and titanium are chosen—and connect it to the traits that help SPD pros thrive: curiosity, reliability, and a calm, detailed mindset. From there, we step into forging: the heat of externships, the pace of the OR, and the moments that align your...
2025-10-1610 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastFrom Bottleneck to Backbone: Data-Driven Sterile ProcessingSend a textThink SPD is just “the place that washes trays”? Think again. We sit down with Sarah Vinson—a 25-year sterile processing leader, former HSPA board member, and data evangelist—to show how sterile processing becomes the backbone of surgical flow when facts lead the way. From robotics to complex imaging, SPD’s technical demands have exploded, and so has its potential to solve the problems it often gets blamed for.We walk through concrete examples where inventory data smoothed OR days, where adding commonly used pill packs into sets eliminated churn, and where dash...
2025-10-1331 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastMicro Series: Ep 2 Crafting a Resume That Lands Entry-Level Sterile Processing RolesSend a textWe break down how to turn minimal experience into a strong, clean resume that gets noticed for sterile processing roles. We share structure, examples, and practical tips to quantify wins, highlight coursework and externships, and frame transferable skills with impact.• reframing the resume as a marketing tool• what to showcase with little experience• certifications to list and how to present them• a simple one-page structure that scans fast• quantifying tasks and highlighting achievements• turning labs and projects into proof points• pro tips for school involvement and TA roles•...
2025-10-0908 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastHow to Build Strong Clinical Sterile Processing Mentors with Dannie O.Send a textDannie O. Smith, Director of Education for the Mid-Atlantic Central Service Association, discusses how preceptors shape the next generation of sterile processing professionals through mentorship and education. He shares insights from both sides of the training relationship, exploring the essential qualities that make effective clinical mentors.• Preceptors make or break new employees in sterile processing by either providing supportive guidance or leaving them to sink or swim• Patience, consistency, good communication skills, and emotional intelligence are crucial qualities for effective preceptors• Selecting the right preceptor means finding someone motivated by develo...
2025-09-2233 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastMeet the Hero's keeping patients safe with Dr. Raynetta StansilSend a textDr. Raynetta Stansil, Director of Sterile Processing and Surgical Services at the University of Illinois , shares her journey from surgical technologist to executive leadership and reveals how critical thinking transforms technicians into leaders.• Dr. Stansil's entry into sterile processing began when making friends with SPD staff during quiet trauma shift weekends• Critical thinking is the essential skill that separates technicians from leaders in sterile processing• Experience often trumps education in SPD leadership - "that degree means nothing, those years of experience mean everything"• Leaders should maintain an open-door policy to preve...
2025-09-1625 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastThe Future of Sterile Processing: How Robotics is Transforming Hospital WorkflowsSend a textRobotics isn't replacing sterile processing technicians—it's revolutionizing how they work. Join Bill Rishell and global expert Babak from BIG Consulting as they explore the transformative impact of automation on hospital sterile processing departments.The conversation dives deep into how healthcare facilities are responding to four critical challenges: rising costs, staff satisfaction, digitization, and patient experience. Babak reveals how current robotic technologies—from automated wrapping systems to intelligent storage solutions—are alleviating physical burdens on SPD technicians who typically lift 500-700 kilograms of instruments daily.What emerges is a fascinating pictur...
2025-09-0833 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastThe $50 Billion Dollar Problem: Why Automation is Sterile Processing's FutureSend a textThe hidden $50 billion hemorrhage destroying hospital finances has finally been exposed. In this riveting conversation with Christopher Salkowitz from RST Automation, we uncover how outdated sterile processing methods are creating a perfect storm that's forcing rural hospitals to close and burning out the dedicated techs who keep surgeries running.Drawing on groundbreaking research by Dr. Peter Nichol, Chris reveals the shocking statistic that each operating room loses $200,000 annually solely from incorrect or incomplete surgical trays. Even more alarming, fewer than 20% of sterile processing quality issues are ever reported. The financial drain is m...
2025-09-0430 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastBeyond Scrubbing: How Alyssa Ellis Elevates Surgical TechnologySend a textAlyssa Ellis, known as @beyondassisting on Instagram, transforms surgical technology education by sharing honest insights about the blood, sweat, and purpose behind the field that she once feared but now champions as both a certified surgical technologist and first assist.• Started as a surgical tech after accompanying friends to school who both quit within two weeks• Maintains both surgical tech and first assist certifications to preserve her foundational skills• Explains the difference between surgical technologists (instrument passers) and first assists who help retract, suture, and cut• Identifies confidence as the bigg...
2025-08-2557 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastDisrupting Sterile Processing: How Shantel Berwald Transforms SPD CultureSend a textShantel Berwald, a trailblazer in sterile processing leadership, shares her journey from surgical tech to SPD director and reveals how she's transforming department culture. Through personal experiences and practical insights, she demonstrates how effective leadership in sterile processing balances technical expertise with people-focused management and strategic vision.• Journey from surgical tech to SPD director through hands-on learning and curiosity• Describes leadership style as "disruptive in the best way possible" - focusing on efficiency and patient safety• Emphasizes the technical complexity and scientific foundation of sterile processing that often goes unrecognized•...
2025-08-1822 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastSkills with Jill: Beyond Reprocessing- Sustainable Approaches to Modern EndoscopySend a textWhat happens when a patient needs an urgent endoscopic procedure at 2 AM? The answer might surprise you – and it's changing healthcare delivery across the board.Christian Escobar, VP of Marketing at Ambu USA with 30 years of experience in medical technology, pulls back the curtain on how single-use endoscopes are revolutionizing patient care. From critical care units to outpatient clinics, these devices offer something traditional reusable equipment can't: immediate availability without complex reprocessing requirements.The conversation goes deep into how single-use technology addresses the persistent challenge of cross-contamination risk. Despite rigorous cl...
2025-08-1430 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastConfronting Toxicity in Sterile ProcessingSend a textToxicity in the sterile processing workplace damages not just team morale but also impacts patient safety, retention, and outcomes. HSPA President Arlene Bush joins the podcast to share strategies for identifying and addressing toxic behaviors to create healthier department cultures.• Poor communication, blame culture, disrespect, and lack of leadership support are major contributors to SPD toxicity• High turnover, resistance to change, gaslighting, and lack of accountability serve as red flags for toxic environments• Documentation is essential when addressing workplace toxicity—"if it wasn't documented, it never happened"• Leadership must directly a...
2025-08-1141 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastSkills with Jill: Single-Use Endoscopes & How They Are Revolutionizing Healthcare WorkflowsSend a textChristian Escobar, VP of Marketing for Ambu US, brings three decades of endoscopy expertise to this eye-opening discussion about how single-use endoscopes are revolutionizing healthcare delivery across hospital departments.The conversation begins with a fascinating history of endoscope technology evolution, from hybrid systems of the past to today's fully disposable solutions that now rival traditional reusable equipment in performance. Escobar explains how single-use technology has matured over the past decade, with Ambu now offering fifth-generation HD bronchoscopes capable of handling high-energy devices with specifications comparable to premium reusable scopes.What...
2025-08-0728 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastExperience Over Education: Leading Without a Degree in SPDSend a textCliff Russell, operations leader with 27 years of experience, shares insights on turning chaos into clarity and redefining leadership qualifications beyond traditional credentials. His journey demonstrates how experience, process implementation, and continuous improvement create exceptional results despite conventional hiring barriers.• Building momentum after successful fiscal years by balancing reflection and forward planning • Creating value for customers through data-driven service tailored to specific needs• Navigating career obstacles without formal degrees through continuous self-improvement• Addressing hiring biases that filter out qualified candidates based solely on credentials• Transforming rejection into opportunity for growth rath...
2025-08-0427 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastSkills with Jill: Parent Hacks with Infection Preventionist Jill HoldsworthSend a textJill Holdsworth, a certified infection preventionist with 15 years of experience, shares practical advice for parents on managing household cleaning and disinfection during childhood illnesses while maintaining a balanced approach to germ exposure.• Doorknobs and light switches are high-priority cleaning targets during illness outbreaks• Heat from the dryer is typically sufficient for sanitizing bedding without special additives• Steam cleaning is recommended for baby bottles and pacifiers to prevent biofilm buildup• Children should be truly fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school• Use appropriate brushes for cleaning sippy cups and w...
2025-07-3119 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastTransforming SPD Education: Beyond the Classroom with Renee Moran FoldsSterile processing educators shape the future of healthcare by developing skilled technicians whose work directly impacts patient outcomes and safety, often in ways that go unseen and unrecognized.• Successful SPD students demonstrate self-motivation, resilience, and the right mindset to overcome challenges• Effective SPD education goes beyond textbooks to include guest speakers, real lab experiences, and discussions about patient impact• Finding externships and mentorship opportunities is crucial for students completing certification requirements• Students should utilize resources like Beyond Clean podcast and network with industry professionals• SPD professionals act as "superheroe...
2025-07-2827 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastTransforming SPD Education: Beyond the Classroom with Renee Moran FoldsSend a textSterile processing educators shape the future of healthcare by developing skilled technicians whose work directly impacts patient outcomes and safety, often in ways that go unseen and unrecognized.• Successful SPD students demonstrate self-motivation, resilience, and the right mindset to overcome challenges• Effective SPD education goes beyond textbooks to include guest speakers, real lab experiences, and discussions about patient impact• Finding externships and mentorship opportunities is crucial for students completing certification requirements• Students should utilize resources like Beyond Clean podcast and network with industry professionals• SPD professionals act as "superheroe...
2025-07-2827 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastTrapped or Trained: Why Your Mindset Matters in Sterile ProcessingMindset is everything in sterile processing, where the difference between fixed and growth perspectives determines your ability to thrive amidst complex challenges and high-pressure situations.• Growth mindset believes abilities improve with effort while fixed mindset assumes skills are static• Real-world examples show how perspective transforms workplace challenges into learning opportunities• Catch negative self-talk and use the power of "yet" to reframe limitations as temporary• Surround yourself with growth-minded colleagues who encourage questions and constructive feedback• Handle mistakes with grace and responsibility rather than defensiveness• Ask better questions ab...
2025-07-2715 minSterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastTrapped or Trained: Why Your Mindset Matters in Sterile ProcessingSend a textMindset is everything in sterile processing, where the difference between fixed and growth perspectives determines your ability to thrive amidst complex challenges and high-pressure situations.• Growth mindset believes abilities improve with effort while fixed mindset assumes skills are static• Real-world examples show how perspective transforms workplace challenges into learning opportunities• Catch negative self-talk and use the power of "yet" to reframe limitations as temporary• Surround yourself with growth-minded colleagues who encourage questions and constructive feedback• Handle mistakes with grace and responsibility rather than defensiveness• Ask better questions about the "w...
2025-07-2615 min