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All Episodes

Ask the Educator — 160 episodes

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1

Episode 164. What You Need to Know About ANSI/AAMI PB70

2

Episode 163. How to Conduct a Research Study in Sterile Processing

3

Episode 162. A Closer Look at the New AAMI Level 4 Decontamination Gown

4

Episode 161. Career Development in Sterile Processing

5

Episode 160. Starting a Business in Sterile Processing

6

Episode 159. How to Inspect Shavers, Rigid Endoscopes & Light Cables

7

Episode 158. How Do You Store Long Enteroscopes? Endoscopy Reprocessing Tips

8

Episode 157. Endoscopy Experts Answer Your Top Reprocessing Questions

9

Episode 156. Light Guide Cables – Do they Work and Why it Matters

10

155. Using AI to Solve Sterile Processing Problems

11

154. Competency Development in Sterile Processing

12

Episode 153. Lint and its Potential Impact on Surgery

13

Episode 152. Appreciation and Recognition in Sterile Processing

14

Episode 151. History of Healthmark with Ralph Basile

15

Episode 150: You Asked, We Answered!

16

Episode 149. What’s New in Flexible Endoscope Processing?

17

148. Getting Started in Sterile Processing

18

A Personal Story on the Impact of Insulation Testing

19

146. Shaver Study Data: Are your Seals Secure?

20

145. Are Your Endoscopes Dry?

21

144. 2025 HSPA Award of Honor Winner – Julie Williamson

22

143. Chemical Safety in Sterile Processing: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

23

142. ADHD in Sterile Processing: Real Talk with Tiffany and Jake

24

141. Why Are My Surgical Instruments Magnetized?

25

140. Inside the HSPA Certification Exam Process

26

139. Functionality Testing Surgical Instruments and Devices

27

138. Strengthening OR and SPD Relationships

28

137. Sterile Processing Educator Resources and Strategies

29

136. Introverts Guide to Thriving at Industry Conferences

30

135. Education Gaps in Reprocessing Endoscopes

31

134. Biofilms and Fomites

32

133. What’s Inside? Cutting Open Surgical Instruments

33

132. OR & SPD: Building Trust for Better Patient Outcomes

34

131. Stephen Kovach’s Exit Interview – Part 2

35

130. Stephen Kovach’s Exit Interview – Part 1

36

129. Mastering the Survey Process: Insights on Reprocessing and Department Readiness with Dr. Tiffany Wiksten

37

128. Giving Thanks to Sterile Processing Professionals

38

127. Nightmare on SPD Street

39

126. Sterile Processing Technologist? Why We Need a New (More Accurate) Job Title

40

125. Honoring Sterile Processing Technicians with HSPA President-Elect Arlene Bush

41

124. Breaking the Cycle: Confronting Workplace Bullying in Healthcare with Katie Belski

42

123: Disposable Scopes: Reducing Infection Risks and Environmental Impact

43

122. TIR99 for Processing Probes & Dilators

44

121. Enhancing Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing: The Role of Borescopes and AI

45

120. Surgical Instrument Maintenance: Keeping Tools in the Open Position

46

119. Spanish Speakers in Sterile Processing – Interview with Angie Holland

47

118. Implementing Standards on the Go: Insights from a Traveling Leader

48

117. Launching a New HSPA Chapter: Insights and Tips from Leslie Kronstedt

49

116. The Critical Role of Documentation with Andy Mikos

50

115. Sterile Aware Awards An Interview with Charlie Webb

51

114. The Critical Role of Borescopes in Sterile Processing with Cheron Rojo

52

113. The Dirty Side of Environmental Cleaning with Seth Hendee

53

112. A Call to Action for ALL Sterile Processing Professionals

54

111. Nominees for the HSPA Board of Directors - Angela Warner, Nicholas Day, and Stacey MacArthur

55

110. Nominees for the HSPA Board of Directors: Joseph Avila, Tim Hurtado, and Tori Ruiz

56

109. Interview with Arlene Bush, HSPA Presidential Nominee

57

108. Arthroscopic Shavers – 2020 vs. 2024

58

107. Getting Involved in Sterile Processing Mission Trips: Interview with Sean Weir

59

106. Ultrasonic Lumen Flushing: Is Yours Working?

60

105. How to Kill Microorganisms with Sterilization

61

104. What is the Cost of a Sterile Processing Error? Interview with Gregg Agoston

62

103. Reprocessing Ultrasound Probes & Understanding Percutaneous Procedures

63

102. State Mandated Certification in Sterile Processing: A 20 Year Anniversary | PART 2

64

101. State Mandated Certification in Sterile Processing: A 20 Year Anniversary

65

100. Ask the Educator's 100th Episode!!

66

99. Sterile Processing Education Collaboration

67

98. AI and Automation Inspection for Sterile Processing & Endoscopy

68

97. Learning to Lead SPD as an OR Nurse: Interview with Aimee Space

69

96. Endoscope Reprocessing Training - an HSPA Sponsored Program

70

95. SPD Stories from the Trenches

71

93. What Do You Do When it's Not in the IFU?

72

92. Fire in the OR! Why Checking Cords for Integrity and Continuity is Important

73

91. Where is Your 'Why'?

74

90. What is PB70 and the Protective Barriers Committee?

75

89. ST98: New Guidelines for Manufacturer Cleaning Validation

76

88. ST91 - Part 6 of 6: Informative Annexes

77

87. ST91 - Part 5 of 6: Quality Assurance

78

86. ST91 - Part 4 of 6: Handling and Storage of Scopes Post-Processing

79

85. ST91 - Part 3 of 6: Point of Use Treatment and Leak Testing

80

84. ST91 - Part 2 of 6: High Risk Endoscopes, Manual Disinfection, and Sterilization

81

83. ST91 - Part 1 of 6: What is ST91? An Introduction to Flexible Endoscope Standards

82

82. Gladiators Hold the Line! A Patient & Parent Story with Alisha Loy

83

81. Education Culture in Sterile Processing

84

80. Sourcing Solutions from Multiple Vendors in SPD

85

79. Psychological Safety and Forming the Multidisciplinary Team

86

78. Sterile Processing: Safety First

87

77. Horror Stories in Sterile Processing with the Healthmark Educators

88

76. Insulation Testing of Surgical Instruments with Cheron Rojo

89

75. SID, Layerjot, and the Future of Surgical Instrument Identification with Etay Gafni

90

74. Peel Pouch Problems

91

73. How Confident are You in Your Peel Pouch Seals?

92

72. Can we get an IFU for finding and using IFUs?

93

71. Cleaning up a Wet Mess: Troubleshooting Wet Packs

94

70. Open Wide: A Discussion About Sterile Processing in the Dental Industry

95

69. Want to Take Your Sterile Processing Career to the Next Level? Consider Mentorship: Interview with Sarah B. Cruz

96

68. How Well Do You Know Your IFUs?

97

67. Innovation in Instrument Protection: Interview with Guy Phipps

98

66. Education is a Sterile Processing Superpower

99

65. Why am I Signing This Sterilizer Printout?

100

64. Get Rid of Those Gnarly Brushes!

101

63. Lead Your SPD with Storytelling: Interview with Hank Balch

102

62. SPD Leadership Spotlight: Interview with Jim VanPietersom

103

61. Survey Readiness Series: A Focus on Endoscopy

104

60. Quality Management Series: Tray Audits

105

59. Survey Readiness Series: Transportation of Reusable Devices

106

58. Survey Readiness Series: Case Cart Auditing

107

57. Survey Readiness Series: All You Need to Know About Eyewash Stations

108

56. How Vested-Medical Prioritizes Quality: Interview with Tracy Raymond

109

55. Measuring to Improve: Interview with Jake McHugh

110

54. Getting to Know Marjorie Wall, Your Next IAHCSMM President-Elect

111

53. Survey Readiness Series: Logs and Documentation

112

52. Going Mobile: A Year of Podcasts

113

51. Survey Readiness Series: Making a First Impression

114

50. Unsung Heroes of SPD Series: Air Guns and PPE for Your Ears

115

49. Answering Common Peel Pouch Questions in Light of Sterilization Wrap Shortage

116

48. Should Vendor Trays Be Condensed From Multiple Trays Down To Fewer Trays?

117

47. Unsung Heroes of SPD Series: Water Spray Arms & Water Guns

118

46. Unsung Heroes of SPD Series: The Demagnetizer

119

45. Unsung Heroes of SPD Series: The Heat Sealer

120

44. What You Need to Know About ANSI/AAMI ST79 Amendments 1, 3, and 4

121

43. What You Need To Know About ANSI/AAMI ST 79 Amendment 2

122

42. Unsung Heroes of SPD Series: Case Cart Washer

123

41. What You Should Know About AAMI TIR 12: Interview With Damien Berg

124

40. The Importance of Education in Sterile Processing: Interview with Nancy Chobin

125

39. Breaking News: Four ANSI/AAMI ST79 Amendments Released!

126

38. Inspect What You Expect - Endoscope Edition: Interview With Bernie Spencer

127

37. What's So Special About Cleaning Brushes?

128

36. Commit to Education

129

35. What a Gift!

130

34. What Is A KPI And Why Is It Important?

131

33. What Do We Need To Know About Insulation Testing?

132

32. Five States Now Require Certification For Sterile Processing Techs, What's Next? Interview With Tony Monaco

133

30. The WFHSS Digital Day 2020: Interview With Harry Oussoren

134

29. The Ten Factors Of Cleaning Series Wrap Up (Part 11)

135

28. What Can We Learn From The Blue62 Story: Interview With Rod Parker

136

27. Land of Lost Instrumentation: How to Handle the Mystery of Missing Instruments

137

25. The Ten Factors of Cleaning Series (Part 10): Chemistries

138

24. The Ten Factors of Cleaning Series (Part 9): Type of Soil

139

23. The Ten Factors of Cleaning Series (Part 8): Mechanical

140

22. The Ten Factors of Cleaning Series (Part 7): Dilution/Concentration

141

21. The Ten Factors of Cleaning Series (Part 6): Water

142

20. Finding a Safe and Effective Way to Process PPE: An Interview with Dr. Kaye and Dr. Roberts

143

19. The Ten Factors of Cleaning Series (Part 5): Temperature

144

18. The Ten Factors of Cleaning Series (Part 4): Standards

145

17. The Ten Factors of Cleaning Series (part 3): Human Factors

146

16. The Ten Factors of Cleaning Series (part 2): The Device

147

15. The Ten Factors of Cleaning (Part 1): The IFU

148

14. What Does a Brush Specialist Do?

149

13. What is Delayed Processing of Endoscopes?

150

12. Listener Questions and Feedback

151

11. Hands Across the Water: An Interview with Harry Oussoren and Adam Okada

152

9. Bonus Episode - Interview with Infection Preventionist Jackie Daley

153

8. What is Cavitation, and How do we Know Our Ultrasonic has Adequate Cavitation?

154

7. What Should be Done About Water Quality as Surgical Schedules Begin to Ramp up Again?

155

6. Bonus Episode - Interview with Michelle Hoste

156

5. How to Ensure Effective Competency Training

157

4. How Do I Know My Endoscope Leak Tester is Working?

158

3. How to Ensure Proper Cleaning of Arthroscopic Shavers - Part 2

159

2. How to Ensure Proper Cleaning of Arthroscopic Shavers - Part 1

160

1. Ensuring Safe Transport of Contaminated Items in Light of Covid19