Every minute in the OR matters. When trays are delayed, instruments are missing, or wet sets hold up a case, the impact goes far beyond inconvenience.

Healthcare saves lives but it also leaves a heavy environmental footprint. Globally, the sector is responsible for approximately 4.4%–5.2% of greenhouse gas emissions and about 5% of global CO₂. If healthcare were a country, it would rank as the 13th largest emitter, and in the U.S., it accounts for roughly 8.5% of domestic greenhouse gases.

During Women’s History Month, I often find myself thinking about the women who came before us, the ones who opened doors quietly and persistently, often without much recognition.

As we prepare to attend AAMI next week, we see an important opportunity to strengthen shared understanding of how water treatment decisions influence safety, compliance, and sterilization outcomes in healthcare reprocessing. Case Medical, recognized as a U.S. EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year, approaches chemical safety as an essential part of protecting both staff and patients.