Employee exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as pesticides, disinfectants, cleaners, and hazardous drugs, in the workplace creates a liability for the industry, including healthcare, with some healthcare organizations paying up to $10.5 billion.

We are going through a very perilous time while we are destroying our planet with the overuse of chemicals, pollution of our wastewater streams, and continuing climate change. It is up to all of us consumers, industry and healthcare professionals to work together to reduce waste and reduce the chemical footprint before it is too late.

Most of us realize that while we may not be in a supply chain crisis or shock yet, nevertheless we are facing a supply chain dilemma. A supply chain shock is defined as an unexpected event that disrupts the flow of goods and services within a supply chain, like a flood which we’ve experienced, an unexpected move done that too, pandemic

 There was a time when processing medical devices was simple. Paper count sheets were commonly used, stick on labels identified product and location, and documents could be kept in the supervisor’s office because processing these devices was intuitive.

According to OSHA, hazardous chemicals are prevalent in Central Sterile Supply (SPD). Examples include concentrated liquids with extreme pH levels, sterilization liquids and gases, plasma vapors, and other disinfecting liquids and aerosols...

Let’s talk about rinsing, whether its dishes, your hair, salad fixings or medical devices. Doesn’t sound all that glamorous does it? Right up there with taking out the trash and many other chores that need to be done. That’s why they’re called chores after all. Truth is rinsing is really, really important, and yet is often overlooked or simply not done well enough because it takes time...

It is late October, a time when apples are pressed into cider, leaves turn to vibrant autumn colors and Halloween horror movies scare and thrill audiences. While the names of monsters, ghosts and ghouls in these movies change, there are some recurring themes that are common to all of them including dangers lurking in hidden places, unexpected twists, secret weapons and of course, sequels. In a horror movie starring SPD professionals ...

It is late October, a time when apples are pressed into cider, leaves turn to vibrant autumn colors and Halloween horror movies scare and thrill audiences. While the names of monsters, ghosts and ghouls in these movies change, there are some recurring themes that are common to all of them including dangers lurking in hidden places, unexpected twists, secret weapons and of course, sequels. In a horror movie starring SPD professionals ...

Let’s talk about rinsing, whether its dishes, your hair, salad fixings or medical devices. Doesn’t sound all that glamorous does it? Right up there with taking out the trash and many other chores that need to be done. That’s why they’re called chores after all. Truth is rinsing is really, really important, and yet is often overlooked or simply not done well enough because it takes time...

There's a lot to be learned from food science that can be applied to reprocessing medical devices. For example, you should never put meat into a cold pan before cooking, because the meat and even the oil will then stick and burn. Rather pre-heat your cookware before putting anything in it. The same principle of pre-heating holds true for sterilization, if you want to ensure a good outcome...