Live Webinar: Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 - 10:00-11:00(CST)

An in-depth description of what every healthcare worker should know about steam sterilization is discussed in this presentation.  Explanations and discussions of the necessary steps in monitoring, testing and quality control of sterilization processes is a highlighted focus during this educational offering.

The second half of the presentation will discuss what is a ONE TRAY® and the impact that it could have on your delivery of patient care.

Objectives:

1. List the three essential conditions that must be met for an item to be considered sterile.
2. Describe the types and applications of steam sterilization monitoring and testing devices.
3. Discuss AAMI, FDA, CMS, and state regulatory guidance for steam sterilization processes.

Guest Speaker:

Barbara Ann Harmer, MHA, BSN, RN

VP of Clinical Services 

Innovative Sterilization Technologies, LLC 

Barbara Ann Harmer is the Vice President of Clinical Services at Innovative Sterilization Technologies, 
LLC. Barbara is a highly skilled, knowledgeable and visionary perioperative nursing leader with over 48
years of administrative and clinical management and internal and external consulting experience in both 
inpatient, outpatient and multi-campus healthcare facilities. She is the founder and President of 
MedAssist Consultants Inc., a highly respected and experienced consulting company for over 46 years. 
She has successfully provided medical and surgical consulting services to over 325 clients nationally and 
internationally. Barbara Annís record demonstrates increasingly challenging healthcare leadership 
positions. She is sought after as a speaker for local, regional and national symposiums and conventions. 

Ms. Harmer has been a member of AORN since 1977; she is an active member of four AAMI working 
committees, ST/WG 40 - Steam Sterilization hospital practices (ST79) and ST/WG 84 ñ Endoscope 
Reprocessing (ST91), ST/WG 17, Cleaning and Disinfection, and ST/WG 12 Instructions for Reusable 
Device Reprocessing. She has participated as a member of the Advisory Committee/WG 40 and assisted 
in the rework and redesign of ANSI/AAMI ST79: 2017 Comprehensive guide to steam sterilization and 
sterility assurance in health care facilities. Ms. Harmer has also worked on the development of the 
AAMI TIR 109, External transport of medical devices processed by health care facilities and AAMI TIR 
99, Processing of dilators, transesophageal and ultrasound probes in health care facilities. 
Ms. Harmer is a past national president of the ophthalmic nursing organization, ASORN, Inc. 
She was a surveyor for AAAHC for twenty-four years and had conducted CMS surveys since the 
inception of deemed status surveys in 1996. She is a member of AORN, Inc., ASORN, Inc. and HSPA 
(formerly known as IAHCSMM).

Eligible for 1 CE

On Demand Webinar: Tuesday, January 20th, 2026

Tune in monthly and join HSPA’s Certification Department to hear program updates, ask questions regarding your application requirements, and chat with department leadership. This month will focus on how to stay in touch with HSPA, certification program updates, and certification department processing expectations.

Learning Objectives:

1. Stay informed and keep in touch with HSPA

2. Certification program updates and reminders

3. Managing (or understanding?) application and certification renewal processing expectations

No CE is offered for this webinar

Live Webinar: Thursday, December 4th, 2025 - 10:00-11:00(CST)

As the field of robotic surgery accelerates, hospitals face the challenge of scaling their Sterile Processing Departments (SPD) to support increasingly complex and high-demand surgical programs. This comprehensive session will provide Sterile Processing Managers and Leaders with innovative strategies, forward-thinking planning frameworks, and collaboration models—empowering them to drive hospital growth through excellence in robotic surgery.

Objectives:
1.Optimization of Sterile Processing Workflows: Discuss innovative strategies and technologies that Sterile Processing Managers are implementing to streamline workflows and improve efficiency in supporting robotic surgery demands.
2.Strategic Planning for Growth in Robotic Surgery: Discuss how Sterile Processing Leaders can develop and implement strategic plans to accommodate and support the anticipated growth in robotic surgery, including resource allocation, capacity building, and infrastructure expansion.
3.Fostering Interdepartmental Collaboration: Explore methods for enhancing communication and collaboration between the Sterile Processing Department and surgical teams to effectively support the expansion and success of robotic surgery programs.

Speakers:

Moderator: Marcy Duffy, CSFA, CST, CRCST, Genesis Reprocessing Product Marketing Manager, Intuitive 
•With over 8 years at Intuitive, I specialize in driving innovative solutions that enhance surgical and reprocessing workflows. Before that, I spent over 18 years working in OR and SPD environments across New York, gaining firsthand experience in frontline clinical operations. My work emphasizes Intuitive's commitment to streamlining programs, reprocessing, and enhancing communication to support our care teams

Barry Bryant ST, CRCST, CIS, CHL, CER, Sterile Processing Manager, Northeast Georgia Medical Center
•Barry L. Bryant brings over three decades of deep expertise in surgical services and sterile processing.  His career spans 16 years as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), followed by roles as OR Materials Coordinator and a decade of honorable service in the U.S. Military.  Barry has also contributed five years to the medical device industry, enriching his perspective on product safety and innovation.
For the past 15 years, Barry has served as a Sterile Processing Department (SPD) Manager, demonstrating exceptional leadership in advancing patient safety and operational excellence.  He holds multiple industry certifications and currently serves as Treasurer of the Georgia Sterile Processing Association (GSPA), a chapter of the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA).
Barry’s dedication to the profession and commitment to continued learning make him a valued mentor and voice in the field.

Jim Tyrell, CRST, Manager, Sterile Processing, Silver Cross
•Jim Tyrell has continued to use process improvement strategies to constantly look for the best practices in his healthcare / Sterile Processing career spanning over three decades. The past 15 years Jim has served as the Sterile Processing Manager for Silver Cross hospital. 
In 2015, Silver Cross's Sterile Processing Department, led by Jim, was chosen as Healthcare Purchasing Magazine's SPD Department of the year. This honor was given to Silver Cross as one of over 3000 Sterile Processing Department's nationwide.
Jim continues to look for innovative ways to create efficiencies within the Surgical/SPD environment often visiting other facilities in search of new/better processes with the end goal of creating a better staff working environment and thus better results for the patients he serves.

Eligible for 1 CE

Live Webinar: Thursday, November 20th, 2025 - 10:00-11:00(CST)

Sterile Processing Departments (SPDs) face mounting challenges—rising surgical volumes, limited space, and the constant need to control costs while ensuring quality patient care. This webinar brings together SPD and supply chain leaders to share proven innovations that streamline workflows, improve storage and labeling, reduce waste, and strengthen collaboration with clinical teams. Through case studies and discussion, attendees will discover practical strategies such as standardization, on-boarding education, technology integration, and container alternatives—all designed to ease stress, boost efficiency, and deliver measurable operational and financial benefits. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to: 

1. Identify common SPD challenges 
2. Evaluate innovations in storage and organization 
3. Examine the role of technology 
4. Discuss strategies for cost efficiency and staff engagement 

Speaker:  Timothy Brooks, Associate Director of Central Sterile Processing Department (CSPD), Banner University Medical Center Tucson, has 37 years of management experience in hospital SPD and OR materials management. He holds a BS in Business Management and CBSPD Manager Certification. Tim is a member of HSPA (formerly IAHCSMM) and has served as a Systems Director for Banner Health CSPD from 2019 to 2023, CSPD Working Group, and Leadership teams as well as a member of the Banner PeriOp Systems Leadership committee. Tim has served on the STERIS 2015-2017 Sterile Processing Advisory Committee. Tim has published articles in ICT and HPN and completed public speaking on topics related to the management of surgical instrumentation, OR through-put, and extensive CSPD department design and workflows

Eligible for 1 CE

Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) lessons provide members with ongoing education focusing on the maintenance and handling of endoscopes. These lessons are designed for CER recertification, but can be of value to any CRCST

This lesson is set to expire February 28th, 2030

Directions:

1. Click the "Handouts" tab to download and read the Lesson Plan
2. Click the "Contents" tab to begin the Quiz

As technicians become confident in their skills and begin looking for ways to grow and help others, training fellow staff members should be considered. This lesson discusses how technicians can effectively plan and present a training session.

This lesson is set to expire February 28th, 2030

Directions:

1. Click the "Handouts" tab to download and read the Lesson Plan
2. Click the "Contents" tab to begin the Quiz

As technicians become confident in their skills and begin looking for ways to grow and help others, training fellow staff members should be considered. This lesson discusses how technicians can effectively plan and present a training session.

This lesson is set to expire December 31st, 2029

Directions:

1. Click the "Handouts" tab to download and read the Lesson Plan
2. Click the "Contents" tab to begin the Quiz

Live Webinar: Thursday, October 9th, 2025 - 10:00-11:00(CST)

Effective communication between sterile processing departments (SPD) and other healthcare teams is essential for ensuring patient safety, surgical efficiency, and overall quality of care. This session explores the critical role of interdepartmental collaboration, highlighting common communication challenges and practical strategies to overcome them. Participants will gain insights into the workflows of SPD and clinical teams and learn tools for improving information exchange. Whether you're in SPD, nursing, surgery, or administration, this session will equip you with actionable techniques to strengthen teamwork and enhance outcomes across your organization.

Learning objectives

1.Identify common communication barriers between sterile processing departments (SPD) and other healthcare teams, and describe their impact on patient safety and workflow efficiency.

2.Explain the roles and responsibilities of sterile processing professionals and how they intersect with surgical, nursing, and clinical teams.

3.Demonstrate effective communication strategies that foster collaboration and mutual understanding across interdisciplinary teams.

4.Apply tools and techniques (e.g., standardized handoff protocols, checklists, and digital communication platforms) to improve information exchange and reduce errors.

Guest: 

Torres Teakell, Clinical Solutions Manager at Medline

Eligible for 1 CE 

Live Webinar: Thursday, September 25th, 2025 - 10:00-11:00(CST)

This program provides essential knowledge on surgical instrument cleaning and decontamination, covering standard processes and detergent types, ideal cleaning agent characteristics, and the role of water quality. Participants will learn how following industry standards for cleaning and proper detergent selection supports effective reprocessing and helps reduce patient risk of (HAIs), ultimately improving patient outcomes.  

Learning objectives

-Know decontamination and cleaning requirements
-Understand the different types of detergents available for instrument processing
-Review the ideal characteristics of cleaning agents   
-Assess the importance of water in the cleaning process
-Learn how the selection of the right detergent can improve patient outcome by reducing Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs)

Guest: 

Dewey Barker is the Clinical Manger/Educator at Case Medical, Inc. He worked in the roles of O.R. Nurse, O.R. Manager, Sterile Processing Manager and O.R. Purchasing Manager for over 25 years. Mr. Barker holds a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Mississippi State University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Alabama, an RN license in the state of Florida, a CRCST certification and is a Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS). He has edited two IAHCSMM/HSPA publications and authored SPD related articles in several healthcare publications. He travels extensively, assessing Sterile Processing Departments and giving in-services and lectures at numerous healthcare facilities, HSPA chapter meetings, and conferences.

Eligible for 1 CE 

Hand hygiene is a critical part of our infection prevention toolkit. Its importance has been highlighted in recent years as healthcare workers face superbug outbreaks and new pandemics. This webinar uses real-world examples of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) and self-contamination by healthcare workers to make the case for performing hand hygiene properly every time. The speaker will explain the basics of HAIs and describe guidelines for hand hygiene from WHO, CDC, and professional organizations. Participants will be guided through the steps involved in proper hand washing and hand sanitizing. This brief webinar is a good introduction to hand hygiene for new employees and refresher for those receiving annual training and competency testing. 

Objectives

• Describe how hand hygiene contributes to infection prevention in healthcare settings
• Explain the role of hand hygiene when taking off PPE
• Discuss the two primary methods of hand hygiene recommended for healthcare personnel 

Instructor

Krystina M. Hopkins, MPH

Krystina Hopkins was a research manager with Ofstead & Associates, Inc. before moving on to a
frontline quality management position at a local hospital. She has an MPH in environmental health,
specializing in infectious disease. Her research has been published in AJIC, ICHE, Endoscopy International
Open, Journal of Wound Care, Urology, AORN Journal, BI&T, and HSPA’s PROCESS
magazine. Ms. Hopkins has over 15 years of hands-on health and healthcare-related research
experience in diverse in-patient, outpatient, and academic settings. Prior to joining Ofstead in 2017, she
supported clinical trials in environmental health, health economics, and community-based research as a
research project manager at Medica Research Institute. Ms. Hopkins was also involved with projects
related to molecular and microbiology, epidemiology, infectious disease, and occupational health in
various roles at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Health

This webinar offers no CE credits.