Shows
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastSPD: Your Secret Weapon for Device SuccessSend us a textWhat if the key to your medical device success isn't in the OR, but in the basement? The Sterilization Station podcast uncovers a powerful but overlooked influence on device outcomes - the relationship between sales representatives and Sterile Processing Departments.Host Bill Rishell welcomes Gyda Loveres, an experienced medical device sales leader who started her career by dropping off trays at SPD. Their conversation reveals how treating SPD professionals with respect, communication, and emotional intelligence transforms transactional interactions into partnerships that drive success."Treat people like people," Gyda emphasizes t...2025-07-1432 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastAI Meets SPD: Transforming Instrument ManagementSend us a textEtay Gafni, founder of LayerJot, shares how AI technology is transforming sterile processing by supporting technicians with instrument identification and tray management solutions. His company's innovations help SPD teams work more efficiently while improving accuracy and reducing workload.• LayerJot began after visiting an SPD department and recognizing the challenges technicians face memorizing thousands of instruments• Building AI that can recognize surgical instruments required tens of thousands of photos and specialized algorithms to identify subtle differences• SID (Surgical Instrument Directory) provides free access to a catalog of 3.5 million instruments through mobile...2025-07-0732 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastUnmute Your Mic: 10 Reasons Podcasters Should Never Give UpSend us a textSupport the show2025-07-0511 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastEvery Tray Tells a Story: Why There Are No Routine Days in Sterile ProcessingSend us a textIn this episode of Sterilization Station, we challenge the dangerous mindset of “just another day” in sterile processing and uncover the deeper purpose behind every shift. Behind every tray, scope, and instrument is a real patient — someone’s story, someone’s life. Your hands are part of their healing.🔍 In This Episode:💡 Why “just another tray” is never just that — each one holds a human story.⚠️ The real danger of becoming desensitized to the importance of our work.🧠 Visualization techniques to reconnect with your purpos...2025-06-2814 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastFrom Ego to Echo: Building a Lasting Impression in Sterile ProcessingSend us a textEvery day in sterile processing, we're writing our legacy not with ink or on resumes, but through how we make people feel and the impact we leave on others.• The difference between ego and legacy: ego seeks personal recognition while legacy focuses on who we've helped grow• Five legacy killers: saying "it's not my job," correcting to control rather than coach, needing to be the smartest person, holding grudges, and belittling others• Ways to build lasting legacy: speaking encouragement aloud, being consistent, apologizing quickly, owning mistakes, and defending others when t...2025-06-2818 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastSurgical Tech Spotlight: From Operating Table to Classroom with Hailee EllisonSend us a textSurgical technologists ensure every instrument is sterile and ready when surgeons need them, serving as vital team members in the operating room while also training future professionals in this specialized healthcare field.• Discovery of surgical technology often happens unexpectedly, as with Haley who switched from nursing after experiencing her first OR rotation• Developing a "surgical conscience" means maintaining sterility standards and patient safety even when no one is watching• Successful surgical techs must master multitasking, anticipating surgeons' needs while monitoring multiple activities in the OR• Collaboration between surgical techs an...2025-06-2347 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastOrganization and Consistency: The Twin Pillars of Sterile ProcessingSend us a textSterile processing excellence is built on two powerful habits: organization and consistency, which directly impact workflow, team culture, and patient safety. Carol Malone joins us to explore how these fundamental traits form the foundation of trust in healthcare settings.• Leaving workspaces clean and stocked is an act of kindness to coworkers and yourself• Disorganized spaces create ripple effects that impact morale and workflow efficiency• Visual systems like labeled storage, cleaning logs, and standardized workstations support consistency• SCOPs (Self-Created Operating Procedures) develop when staff lack understanding of the "why" behind p...2025-06-1652 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastFrom Student to Standout: Conquering Your First Sterile Processing InterviewSend us a textStanding at the threshold of your sterile processing career, that first interview can feel like a daunting challenge. But what if you could transform those nerves into your greatest advantage?This episode of Sterilization Station is dedicated to sterile processing students and externs ready to take that crucial first step into the professional world. We're breaking down the mindset shift that changes everything: you're not begging for a job—you're offering your work ethic, reliability, and hunger to learn to a department that needs precisely what you bring.Through fi...2025-06-1110 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastFrom the Operating Room to Art Studio: A Surgical Technologist's Creative JourneySend us a textCandice Plasan navigates the precision-driven worlds of surgical technology and tattoo artistry, bringing passion and creativity to both realms while drawing surprising connections between them.• Candice's path to surgical technology was inspired by her mother's brain aneurysm during her high school years• After technical school, she fulfilled her goal of working in the same hospital that saved her mother's life• The high-pressure environment of surgery requires quick adaptation, precision, and emotional resilience• Hospital culture creates "uniform chaos" where teams align instantly during emergencies despite hierarchical tensions• Her current ro...2025-06-0936 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastFighting Burnout in Sterile ProcessingSend us a textBurnout in sterile processing is a silent epidemic affecting the healthcare heroes who ensure every surgical instrument is safe for patient use. What causes dedicated SPD professionals to reach their breaking point, and how can we create more sustainable work environments?In this candid conversation with sterile processing thought leader Hank Balch, founder of Beyond Clean, we dive deep into the ten most common factors contributing to burnout in SPD departments nationwide. From the crushing weight of understaffing to the psychological impact of constant high-stakes work, Hank shares insights gained from...2025-06-0238 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment Podcast25 Creative Ways To Land Your Sterile Processing ExternshipSend us a textThe externship drought in sterile processing education creates a significant barrier for students who've completed their coursework but can't find clinical placements to finish certification. Bill Rishell offers 25 proven strategies to break through this challenge and secure the hands-on experience needed to launch your career.• Connect with local HSPA or CBSPD chapters to build professional relationships with decision-makers• Ask instructors for alumni contacts who might provide referrals• Network with SPD leaders on LinkedIn by creating a professional profile• Offer to shadow before requesting an externship to build trust• Re...2025-06-0226 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastThe Power of Coaching in Sterile ProcessingSend us a textSterile processing coaches provide essential support for SPD professionals navigating increasingly complex medical instruments and heightened patient safety standards in 2025. A coach serves as your guide through the journey from basic memorization to true mastery, meeting you where you are and helping you grow with purpose.• Understanding what a sterile processing coach is – not just a trainer, but someone who explains the "why" behind procedures• Exploring the complex 2025 SPD landscape with robotic instruments, digital tracking systems, and stricter compliance• Recognizing coaching as essential rather than optional in today's demanding environm...2025-05-2614 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastYour Hands Matter: The Art of Assembly and Inspection in Sterile ProcessingSend us a textCliff Russell from SterisIMS takes us through the "Y" in our CYCLE mini-series, focusing on "Your Hands Matter" - the critical assembly and inspection phase where precision becomes patient protection.• Assembly and inspection as the last checkpoint before instruments reach surgery• The hidden complexity behind "just putting trays together"• Real consequences of missed defects, including instrument failures during procedures• Using appropriate testing materials for different instrument types• Balancing time pressure with thorough inspection• Scissors as the most commonly undertested instrument in SPD• Creating standardized workstations with proper te...2025-05-1947 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastSurgical Guidelines to Soccer Goal Lines: Balancing Two Fields with John HuacoSend us a textJohn Huaco shares his journey as both a surgical technologist and soccer coach, revealing how passion, precision, and teamwork create success in both the operating room and on the field. His dual career path demonstrates that skills developed in one profession can significantly enhance performance in another, creating a positive feedback loop of continuous improvement.• Found his calling as a surgical technologist after experiencing surgery as a patient• Has dedicated 15 years to surgical technology, helping build his facility from the ground up• Balances work at two different hospitals—one unionize...2025-05-1427 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastFrom Student to Standout: 25 Externship Tips Every SPD Tech Should KnowSend us a textBreaking into the sterile processing field starts with making the most of your externship opportunity. Drawing from years of experience mentoring SPD students, Bill Rishell shares critical strategies that transform externships into job offers in this value-packed episode.Before stepping into any facility, proper preparation sets exceptional externs apart. Researching your assigned healthcare facility, refreshing your technical knowledge, and understanding industry standards demonstrates your commitment to excellence from day one. Those first impressions truly matter – arriving early, introducing yourself confidently, and showing genuine enthusiasm creates a foundation for success throughout your ex...2025-05-1309 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastWhen Your Passion Needs SurgerySend us a textBill Rishell explores how to revitalize your passion for sterile processing when it's become infected with burnout, resentment, or negativity. Using the metaphor of surgical intervention, he offers a transformative approach to diagnosing, treating, and recovering your sense of purpose in healthcare.• Diagnosing passion problems through symptoms like chronic burnout, loss of motivation, cynicism, and disconnection from mission• Understanding that toxicity is personal—if it wasn't in you, it would stop with you• Creating space from negative environments to rebuild your professional mindset• Identifying what needs to be "surgically...2025-04-2921 min
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment PodcastStop Shrinking, Start Shining: Conquering the Voice That Says You Don't Belong in Sterile Processing in 2025Send us a textHave you ever stepped into a leadership role in sterile processing and felt like a fraud waiting to be exposed? That nagging voice questioning whether you're qualified to lead isn't just your imagination – it's imposter syndrome, and it affects countless skilled professionals across healthcare.This episode tackles the unique challenges facing new sterile processing leaders – from lead technicians suddenly managing former peers to managers carrying the weight of departmental responsibility. Rather than offering generic platitudes, we dive deep into role-specific strategies for building authentic confidence in your leadership position.What...2025-04-2428 min