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