SPD Fact Check – Not All It’s Cracked Up to Be: Rethinking the Post-Cycle Door Habit

Your steam cycle finishes, and out of habit, someone cracks the sterilizer door. Sound familiar? On this episode of Beyond Clean, we sit down with Echo Pontinen, Sterile Processing Educator at Lee Health, to take a closer look at the long-standing practice of cracking the sterilizer door after a cycle. This conversation will dive into what sterilizer IFUs actually recommend, why wet loads happen in the first place, and how practices meant to “help” can sometimes prevent teams from identifying bigger issues with equipment, water quality, and more. As we wrap up the season, Echo leaves us with one final SPD fact check that may have your team asking whether your current process is solving the problem or hiding it.

After finishing this podcast episode, earn your 1 CE credit immediately by passing the short quiz linked here: https://www.flexiquiz.com/SC/N/episode32-08

Visit our CE Credit Hub at https://www.beyondcleanmedia.com/ce-credit-hub to access this quiz and over 350 other free CE credits.

🎉That’s a wrap on another incredible season of Beyond Clean! A huge thank you to our guests for sharing their expertise and to our #CleanFreaks for listening and learning with us all season long. We’ll see you soon for Season 33!

#BeyondClean #SterileProcessing #Podcast #Season32 #SPDFactCheck #SteamSterilization #WetLoads #CrackedSterilizerDoor #IFU #Workflow

SPD Fact Check – Scope Sterilization Standoff: Steam vs. Low-Temp for Rigid Endoscopes

At first glance, most rigid endoscopes look pretty much the same. So why can some be steam sterilized while others absolutely can’t? On this episode of “SPD Fact Check,” Kurt Audette, Clinical Specialist at KARL STORZ, helps us look beyond the surface and into the complex design features that determine how rigid endoscopes should be reprocessed. From understanding how optics respond to temperature changes to why light post adapters should almost always be removed before sterilization, Kurt connects the anatomy of the scope to the realities of SPD workflow. Whether you’re processing rigid scopes every day or still trying to decode the IFUs, this conversation brings much-needed clarity to one of Sterile Processing’s most nuanced reprocessing topics.

For more rigid endoscope reprocessing insights, check out Kurt’s Beyond Clean Rigid Endoscope Expert Series™ here: https://beyondcleanmedia.com/expert-series/rigid-endoscope-expert/

After finishing this podcast episode, earn your 1 CE credit immediately by passing the short quiz linked here: https://www.flexiquiz.com/SC/N/episode32-07

Visit our CE Credit Hub at https://www.beyondcleanmedia.com/ce-credit-hub to access this quiz and over 350 other free CE credits.

#BeyondClean #SterileProcessing #Podcast #Season32 #SPDFactCheck #RigidEndoscopes #IFU #Endoscope #SteamSterilization #LowTempSterilization

SPD Fact Check – Cupboards, Carts, & Corkboards: Managing Sterile Storage Outside the SPD/OR

Your SPD has temperature controls, storage policies, and carefully designed workflows to protect sterility. So what happens when your instruments leave your facility and head to a clinic across town? This week, we’re sitting down with Krystal Parrish to explore the real-world challenges of maintaining sterile storage best practices across clinics and specialty practices. From soiled instruments wrapped in paper towels to sterile supplies stored in office drawers, Krystal shares what her team has uncovered while supporting more than 40 off-site locations. She also discusses how SPD leaders can improve transport and storage practices through education, collaboration, and consistency while still maintaining the trust of the teams they support. If your instruments travel beyond the walls of your facility, this episode will have you taking a closer look at what happens after they leave your department.

Visit our CE Credit Hub at https://www.beyondcleanmedia.com/ce-credit-hub to access this quiz and over 350 other free CE credits.

#BeyondClean #SterileProcessing #Podcast #Season32 #SPDFactCheck #SterileStorage #Transportation #BestPractices #StorageStandards #Consistency

The Last Black Speck: How One Team Solved the Debris Problem for Good

What does it really take to make sure a black speck problem never comes back? In the final episode of “What the Speck?,” Sterile Processing expert Kendra Lucas shares the real-world story of how her team worked through one of the most disruptive debris issues a department can face. From canceled surgeries and strained OR/SPD relationships to the detailed root cause analysis needed to uncover the source, Kendra walks us through the investigation that finally revealed what was really happening behind the scenes. Because solving the mystery is one thing—but making sure it never returns is the real victory.

Over the next 6 weeks, this series dives into one of sterile processing’s most frustrating challenges—black specks. From water and steam quality to department culture, risk assessments, and root cause analysis, we’re digging into every angle to uncover real answers (and real solutions) for your SPD.

A special thanks to our sponsor, Aesculap®, for supporting this podcast series!

#BeyondClean #Aesculap #SterileProcessing #WhatTheSpeck #BlackSpecks #SurgicalTrays #Podcast

On Pathogens & PPE: Taking the Lead in SPD

You’re doing the work. You’re solving the problems. Now it’s time to take the lead! On this Season 2 finale of “On Pathogens & PPE,” host Jill Holdsworth is joined by Kelly Zabriskie, Lee Smith, Dr. Kevin Bush, and David Jagrosse to take a closer look at what leadership really means in Sterile Processing. From finding your voice and building confidence to forming partnerships and stepping beyond the walls of SPD, this group shares what it takes to grow as a leader at every level. Whether you’re stepping into your first leadership role or leading with years of experience, this episode will challenge you to think bigger about your role and your impact. You won’t want to miss this one, #CleanFreaks!

That’s a wrap on Season 2! Thank you for coming along for the ride, and a big shoutout to our incredible host and special guests for making it all possible. All episodes are now streaming—listen wherever you get your podcasts, or you can catch them on the Beyond Clean and Transmission Control websites.

#BeyondClean #TransmissionControl #Healthmark #Getinge #OnPathogensAndPPE #SterileProcessing #InfectionPrevention #Podcast

*Disclaimer: The views provided by hosts and guests on this series do not represent any employer, company, or third party, and are solely that of the individuals themselves.

SPD Fact Check – Now You See Me: When Borescopes Reveal Dirty Instruments

You run a borescope through an instrument, and something doesn’t look right. Is it debris? Damage? Or has it always been there? On this episode of Beyond Clean, we’re joined by William Filipponi to break down one of the biggest challenges teams face after implementing borescopes: knowing what you’re actually looking at. From telling the difference between debris and manufacturing artifact to building reference tools that help your team make confident calls, Bill walks us through how to make sense of what you’re seeing inside your instruments for the first time. Whether you’re new to borescopes or looking to strengthen your process, this episode brings clarity to one of the biggest learning curves in SPD.

Visit our CE Credit Hub at https://www.beyondcleanmedia.com/ce-credit-hub to access this quiz and over 350 other free CE credits.

#BeyondClean #SterileProcessing #Podcast #Season32 #SPDFactCheck #Borescopes #InstrumentInspection #SurgicalInstruments #Debris