Just want to let everyone know how pleased we are to be able see everyone face to face and in person in Nashville this Saturday morning. Case Medical will be there for the start of the HSPA conference. It’s been too long since I personally have been there with you, but I’ve gotten my Covid booster and am looking forward to the event. We have some fun events lined up, so roll up your sleeves and join us to learn more about the art and science of cleaning medical devices. I say art and science...

This week is formally designated “Spring Cleaning Week” by the U.S. EPA. It is a time for cleaning or organizing your home or enterprise. It typically falls on the first day of spring, the Persian New Year, and coincides with the Jewish practice of throughly cleansing the home for Passover. Look at your inventory of cleaning products to determine what's truly needed and how safe they are to use. Consider reducing the number of SKU's and replacing some of the more caustic chemicals of concern with safer alternatives. Single use wipes have become very popular for cleaning surfaces, wiping baby messes, for personal care, and throughout healthcare facilities for numerous purposes...

If you're curious about how cleaning products work or why cleaning of medical devices is considered the critical first step in the decontamination process, you've come to the right place. We’ve studied the science of cleaning and are pleased to share with you what we learned as a U.S. EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year, in independent laboratory studies, in our micro lab, and with the USGS at their U.S. Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WI. 

Last week we shared our supply issue of getting 4 new rooftop air conditioning units, which were scheduled for arrival on April 6^th then finding out from the manufacturer of the AC units that it would be 42 weeks, at the earliest, for the units we needed. 2023 is another year of unknowns, and healthcare must rally around this one constant: as Covid 19 wanes, there are rising expectations of a return to “normal”. It’s time to start planning for what’s next.

Are you still experiencing supply chain issues? We are. That is why we stocked up on all the necessary supplies and raw materials we need to meet your needs for instrument processing. Nevertheless, what we learned, however, is that you cannot take anything for granted, such as obtaining necessary equipment or even air conditioning units, because they may not be available when you need them.

In a hospital setting, drug resistant strains of bacteria are a growing problem. Staphylococcus is an especially opportunistic pathogen. When immunity is lowered, it can cause all types of infections. Most antibiotics, even the latest and greatest, are not effective against “super bugs”. Some staph infections no longer respond, or become resistant, to common antibiotics.

Spring is here and with it a time of renewal. The time for spring cleaning is at hand, however, it’s become apparent that limiting exposure to various chemicals, toxins and pollutants is also important. We’ve learned much about the detrimental effects various chemicals have on our health. Many cleaning products marketed as “green,” “natural” or “eco-friendly” actually contain chemicals that are known carcinogens, endocrine-disruptors or lung and skin irritants. For instance, awareness around the negative reproductive and development effects of BPA (bisphenol A) in plastics and other unregulated chemicals like phthalates is growing, there is still a lot of work to be done to make sure that our health is protected.

Traditionally, women were trained to be teachers, nurses, members of the helping profession, supporting their male leaders. Then things changed during WWII when Rosie the Riveter was called by our country in crisis to contribute to manufacturing necessary equipment when our male population went to war...

Healthcare has long been a path toward advancement for women—from the 1950s when Virginia Apgar, developed a standard to assess newborn health, to Tu Youyou’s Nobel Prize in medicine in 2015 for her discovery of a treatment for malaria. Women account for more than half of all entry-level employees in healthcare and have made great strides in advancing to management. And Case Medical as a woman owned and run medical device manufacturer counts itself part of the advancement of women in healthcare.

Happy Earth Day! Your yearly reminder to respect the earth and show gratitude for our planet. The earth offers us so many beautiful places and important resources that need to be protected.