Live Webinar: Thursday, March 19th, 2026 - 10:00-11:00(CST) Ultrasound imaging technology is currently used for more clinical applications than any other imaging modality with procedures ranging from radiology and cardiology to endocrinology and women’s health. By today’s count, ultrasound guidance is used in approximately 140 different percutaneous procedures ranging from injections on healthy, intact skin to breast and liver biopsies where variation in provider skill and technique may put patients at risk for infection. For busy infection preventionists who do not have time to conduct a risk assessment or firsthand observation, understanding the diversity of procedures, potential for deviation from clinical best practice and how patients may be put at risk can be challenging. Proper application of the Spaulding Classification System and relevant standards and guidelines to support reprocessing policy adds yet another layer of complexity. As procedural types and locations proliferate, those responsible for managing infection risk and meeting accreditation requirements for ultrasound guided procedures will face an increasingly arduous challenge. Highlights of this one-hour program include: • Critical differences in percutaneous procedures by degree of risk, • Discussion of relevant probe reprocessing standards and regulatory requirements, • Review and application of the Spaulding Classification system, • Lessons learned from a system-wide risk assessment of ultrasound guided percutaneous procedures and reprocessing practice (sample risk assessment included) and, • Considerations for ensuring safety, reliability and compliance across the continuum of care. Learning Objectives • Characterize the range of percutaneous procedures, • Explain the implications of risk assessment findings to patient safety, • Discuss the significance of available evidence demonstrating contact between the ultrasound probe and sterile needle or puncture site, • Determine reprocessing requirements for probes, used in a key group of percutaneous procedures, by applying the Spaulding Classification and relevant regulatory requirements, standards and guidelines. Speaker Bio Maureen Spencer, M.Ed, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC Maureen has been an Infection Preventionist for over 40 years and is board certified in infection control (CIC). As one of the early pioneers in infection control, she was awarded the APIC National Carole DeMille Award in 1990 and was selected as one of the APIC Heroes of Infection Prevention in 2007 for her work in establishing a MRSA and Staph aureus Elimination Program at New England Baptist, an Orthopedic Center of Excellence in 2006. In 2012 she was selected as one of the "Who's Who of Infection Prevention" and in 2017 she was recognized as a Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (FAPIC) for her advanced practice in infection prevention and leadership within the field. She is currently an Infection Prevention Consultant with Commonwealth Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School. Maureen was previously the Director, Clinical Education at Accelerate Diagnostics; Corporate Director, Infection Prevention for Universal Health Services; Infection Control Director at New England Baptist Hospital and Director of the Infection Control Unit at Mass General Hospital. Maureen has presented numerous research abstracts and lectures at national conferences and published many peer reviewed articles on healthcare-associated infections. Internationally she has taught in Austria, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, France, Turkey, Argentina, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea. ​Eligible for 1 CE

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