Learning Center

How a device’s design, components, and use can create cleaning challenges and what to do about it

How communication and shared data can be used to improve workflow, reduce turnovers, and support a more efficient case pick

Maintenance, standards, and survey readiness for these SP workhorses

How Manufacturers Prove Their Devices Can be Cleaned Effectively and Why It Matters

What are these microorganisms and how can we eliminate them?

Tips for making the most of your instrument repair vendor relationship

Actionable strategies to build and develop a pipeline for Sterile Processing technicians

Tips to reframe our role, enhance professional respect and recognize the value SP professionals bring to our communities

Sterile Processing professionals talk about work and life aboard a mission ship. Every year, the HSPA Foundation offers scholarships for Sterile Processing technicians to serve on a Mercy Ships mission, bringing their expertise and passion to those in need in Sub-Saharan Africa. In episode 152, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Kimberly Polard and Oliver Etcu about the Mercy Ships organization and life on a medical mission ship. Polard describes the application process and her experiences onboard. Etcu reviews how Mercy Ships collaborates with local governments to select ports of call and identify the inviting country’s most urgent medical and educational needs. Listen to learn about the life-changing work of Mercy Ships. Etcu also recommends watching The Mercy Ships, a reality show being filmed on board, which he says is “a very good way to experience what the ship has to offer from a volunteer’s point of view.” Stream season 1 here. Our Guests Kimberly Polard, Sterile Processing Technician Kimberly Polard, CRCST, CIS, CHL, CER, is an SP technician with five years of experience, including time spent serving on Mercy Ships. Her time at sea deepened her appreciation for the power of teamwork and dedication in healthcare. She is passionate about the critical role sterile processing plays in ensuring safe, successful surgeries. Oliver Etcu, Sterile Processing Clinical Coordinator, Mercy Ships Oliver Etcu is a Medical Device Reprocessing Technician based in Canada who specializes in sterile processing and infection prevention. Through his work with Mercy Ships, he has supported surgical teams by ensuring the safety and sterility of critical medical instruments in high-impact, resource-limited settings. Passionate about patient safety and global health, Etcu brings a behind-the-scenes perspective on the essential role sterile processing plays in delivering life-changing surgeries.

On a daily basis, Sterile Processing professionals use chemicals that can cause workplace-related injuries or make us ill over time. Although these chemicals are a necessary part of our jobs, updated monitoring standards and emerging technology can help protect us from their long-term effects. In episode 151, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Alex Hilliker of ChemDAQ about the increased emphasis on short-term exposure monitoring. Hilliker discusses the evolving landscape of standards and regulations worldwide and how the implementation of short-term exposure limits (STELs) follows global trends and increases the culture of safety in our departments. He advocates for changing not just the way we think about chemical exposure but also “the measures we take every day to protect our teams and verify compliance.” Listen and learn more. The ChemDAQ/ASP white paper on hydrogen-peroxide emissions safety (part 1) is also available for download, and if you missed Hilliker’s first appearance on Process This!, check out episode 125 : Chemical Safety in the SPD. ABOUT OUR GUEST Alex Hilliker Executive Vice President ChemDAQ Alex Hilliker is ChemDAQ’s Executive Vice President, leading efforts to grow the company’s Instrument Division, expand partnerships and increase global brand recognition. He is passionate about employee safety and educating teams on the potential dangers of overexposure to hazardous chemicals. He is a regular speaker for webinars, conferences and events. Previously, Hilliker served as a manager in Deloitte Consulting’s Government and Public Services practice. He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from The George Washington University and a BA in Political Science from the University of Michigan. He was also selected to participate in leadership programs through the George W. Bush Presidential Center and the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence. ABOUT OUR SPONSOR chemdaq.com ChemDAQ’s mission is to eliminate workplace exposure to toxic chemicals through innovative monitoring solutions, trusted partnerships and unmatched safety expertise. Our advanced sensor technology delivers reliable protection that customers trust, employees take pride in and partners value. Guided by our core values—trust, innovation, empowerment, teamwork, vision and loyalty—we create safer workplaces worldwide.