PROCESS THIS!, a Podcast by HSPA

Sterilization wrap is “not just a big blue plastic sheet.” According to Dr. Sade Brown, “It may look simple, but it is actually high-tech. Behind the scenes, there is a huge amount of science and engineering and testing that goes into it.” All of this work makes blue wrap an essential part of the sterilization system.

In episode 140, host Jon Wood speaks with four members of the Kilmer Innovations in Packaging (KiiP) group: Amanda Benedict, Dr. Brown, Tanya Magaña and Tiffany Reece. Representing standards, manufacturing and healthcare end users, the panelists engage in a lively conversation about the engineering, development and proper use of sterilization wrap. They discuss ANSI/AAMI ST79, provide diverse perspectives on event-related sterility, and review educational opportunities for end users. Listen to learn more and gain strategies for how to collaborate with those outside the Sterile Processing department to protect sterility.

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Kilmer Innovations in Packaging (KiiP)

Inspired by a Kilmer Conference in 2019, the KiiP group works at “solving wicked problems in healthcare packaging.” Bringing together industry leaders, subject matter experts and end users, KiiP fosters collaboration with the goal of improving patient outcomes through innovations and education in healthcare packaging. Process This! episode 140 welcomes KiiP members Amanda Benedict, MA, SES-CSP, FSES, Vice President for Sterilization, AAMI; Sade Brown, PhD, R&D Engineer for Sterilization Products, O&M Halyard; Tanya Magaña, Supplier Excellence Engineering – Packaging, Solventum; and Tiffany Reece, CRCST, CIS, CHL, Clinical Assessment Specialist, Advantage Support Services, Inc.

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HSPA is a vigorous advocate for Sterile Processing (SP) professionals and patients in state legislatures across the country. This initiative is spearheaded by the HSPA Advocacy Team, working hand-in-hand with HSPA Chapters. The team formulates legislative and regulatory strategies for educating state-elected officials on the critical role of SP professionals, and our hard work is paying off!

In episode 139, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Josephine Colacci, HSPA’s Director of Government Affairs, along with Lori Ferrer and Matt Thell of the Minnesota Sterile Processing Association (MNSPA) about the successful legislative effort in Minnesota. The guests discuss the experience of working with HSPA on passing certification legislation, reasons and strategies for pursuing this legislation, and upcoming initiatives nationwide. To learn more, listen in and visit the HSPA Advocacy page.

Link: https://myhspa.org/about/advocacy

Our Guests:

Lori Ferrer

Lori Ferrer, BS, CST, CRCST, is retired after a healthcare career spanning over 46 years. Ferrer was Director of the System Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) at M Health Fairview in Minneapolis, which was honored by Healthcare Purchasing News as the 2020 SPD of the Year. Ferrer is the founder and past president of the Western Wisconsin Sterile Processing Professionals (WWSPP) and a past president of MNSPA. She served as 3M/IAHCSMM Sister Educational Ambassador to Taiwan and an instructor in Surgical Technology and Central Service Technician programs.

Matthew Thell

Matthew Thell, BSB, CRCST, CHL, is the System Program Manager for High-Level Disinfection and Sterilization Practice at M Health Fairview. He brings 13 years of experience in high-level disinfection, sterilization and lean process facilitation to his role. Throughout his career, Thell has overseen multiple renovation projects, implemented competency training programs, led process improvement initiatives, and demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing departmental performance. He was the president of MNSPA from 2024 to 2025 and chaired the Minnesota High-Level Disinfection Task Force through APIC from 2023 to 2024.

Josephine Colacci

Josephine Colacci, Esq., has been the Director of Government Affairs for HSPA since 2010. She has 20 years of experience in healthcare public policy at the state and federal levels. In 11 states, she has drafted legislation that has resulted in 15 laws. Colacci holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Colorado State University and a law degree from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law. She is a licensed attorney in Colorado, Wyoming and Washington, D.C.

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The HSPA Season of Giving is here! To help advance patient safety, the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association established the HSPA Foundation in 2016. Dedicated Sterile Processing (SP) professionals commit to continuing education and professional development to remain focused on doing what’s right in the name of patient safety—for every instrument, surgical case and patient. The Foundation’s mission is to support SP professionals and our industry through educational initiatives, research, scholarships, professional development grants and awards.

In this December 2025 special episode, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Richard Schule, Senior Director for Enterprise Sterile Processing with the Cleveland Clinic, and Damien Berg, VP of Strategic Initiatives at HSPA, about the HSPA Foundation. Our guests discuss the Foundation’s background, successes and current initiatives, both in the U.S. and internationally. Listen to learn about the important work of the Foundation and how you can support your community and participate in the Season of Giving.

Our Guests:

Richard Schule, MBA, FAST, FCS, AAMIF, is the Senior Director for Enterprise Sterile Processing with the Cleveland Clinic.

Damien Berg, BA, BS, CRCST, AAMIF, serves as HSPA’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and is an HSPA Past-President (2018–2019). Additionally, he works closely with regulatory bodies and standards-making groups, including the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and he serves on the Executive Committee for the World Federation for Hospital Sterilisation Sciences (WFHSS).

Please note: CE credit is not offered for this episode.

For more than 50 years, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) has helped healthcare professionals define best practices for employees, equipment and patients. AAMI standards are written through careful debate and consensus. They inform the way we work and are our guideposts for protecting patient safety. Staying up to date on AAMI documents is critical for all Sterile Processing professionals.

In episode 138, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Horlando Cintron and Damien Berg about AAMI’s latest standards and innovations. They discuss new AAMI working groups, important standards updates, upcoming technical information reports (TIRs), and the impact of these publications on our work. Cintron and Berg also explain the AAMI process, share opportunities for participation and encourage you to get involved.

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Horlando Cintron, Manager of Peri-Operative Support Services and Central Processing, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Horlando Cintron, BS, CRCST, CHL, has 27 years of healthcare experience advancing patient safety through infection prevention, education and standards development. He co-chairs AAMI Working Group 40, leading the revision of ANSI/AAMI ST79, and received the AAMI Technical Award for co-chairing the ST58 standard recognized by the FDA. His leadership roles include Director, HSPA Foundation Board (2024–2027) and President, New Jersey Healthcare Central Service Association (2025–2026).

Damien Berg, VP of Strategic Initiatives, HSPA

Damien Berg, BA, BS, CRCST, AAMIF, serves as HSPA’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and is an HSPA Past-President (2018–2019). Additionally, he works closely with regulatory bodies and standards-making groups, such as the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the International Standards Organization (ISO). Berg also serves on the Executive Committee for the World Federation For Hospital Sterilisation Sciences (WFHSS).

 

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Since 1978, the Mercy Ships organization has served patients in parts of the world where medical resources are difficult to access. In that time, Mercy Ships doctors, nurses and technicians, all volunteers, have performed more than 100,000 surgeries with their fleet of state-of-the-art floating hospitals.

In this meaningful episode, host Jon Wood speaks with Katie Vaughn-Bates, Sterile Processing Educator at the University of Rochester and recipient of the HSPA Foundation’s Mercy Ships Scholarship. Vaughn-Bates shares her account of living and working as a mission volunteer. She provides insight into the application process and discusses the similarities and differences of sterile processing activities on a vessel. (Spoiler alert: The technical work is much the same; the interactions with surgeons and patients are not.) Listen to hear about life aboard the Africa Mercy and learn how you can help bring hope and healing to those in need.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Katie Vaughn-Bates, Sterile Processing Educator, URMC Ortho Surgical Center

Katie Vaughn-Bates, CRCST, CHL, CIS, CER, has more than 12 years of experience in sterile processing and currently serves as the SP Educator at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Orthopaedic Surgery Center. She focuses on instrument care, reprocessing and compliance, helping to ensure best practices are followed to support patient safety and positive surgical outcomes.

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HSPA Chapter Resource Roundup

With more than 50 chapters across the country and around the world, HSPA’s affiliated chapter system is available as a local resource to support our Sterile Processing (SP) professionals, wherever they may be. Active participation in a regional chapter offers relationship building and networking, professional development, vendor interaction and inspiration. But where can our chapters and those who run them find support?

In episode 136, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Arlene Bush, HSPA President and SPD Educator for Lee Health, and Damien Berg, HSPA’s VP of Strategic Initiatives, about the resources available to support our chapters. Our guests give a chapter status update and discuss the value of the Chapter Resource Guide and HSPA Network. Their conversation includes advice on identifying relevant topics, promoting educational events, and collaborating with industry partners as well as the importance of promptly applying for continuing education (CE) approval. If you aren’t connected with a chapter, visit HSPA Chapters to find one near you.

Arlene Bush

SPD Educator

Lee Health

Arlene Bush, CRCST, CIS, CHL, CER, DSMD, CRMST, serves as HSPA President as well as the SPD Educator for Lee Health and Communications Director for the Florida Intercoastal Reprocessing Educators (FIRE) chapter. As a seasoned SP leader and subject matter expert, she shares her extensive knowledge through published articles, speeches and the training of future SP professionals.

Damien Berg

VP of Strategic Initiatives

HSPA

Damien Berg, BA, BS, CRCST, AAMIF, serves as HSPA’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and is an HSPA Past-President (2018–2019). Additionally, he works closely with regulatory bodies and standards-making groups, such as the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the International Standards Organization (ISO). Berg serves on the Executive Committee for the World Federation For Hospital Sterilisation Sciences (WFHSS).

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The concept of Lean has been around for many years. What started as a manufacturing concept has been embraced by healthcare as an effective system to increase efficiency while maintaining quality in patient care. However, if its goals and mechanics are not properly understood, Lean can be applied ineffectively, causing an erosion in the confidence of those who use the process.

In episode 135, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with John Kimsey of STERIS about properly utilizing Lean concepts in the Sterile Processing (SP) workflow. Kimsey concisely encompasses the five concepts of the Lean workplace philosophy: “People working together and continuously improving to create customer value and meet regulatory requirements without generating waste.” Using this one sentence, Kimsey defines the five elements of Lean, starting with the importance of a culture of “people working together” to implement change. This impactful conversation will inspire healthcare leaders to examine their roles and learn how they can best be motivators of improvement.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

John Kimsey, VP, Processing Optimization and Customer Success, STERIS

John Kimsey is a seasoned healthcare management professional who helps leadership teams and Sterile Processing departments optimize operational performance. Leveraging 10 years of non-healthcare management consulting experience, he joined STERIS in 2001 and began to merge Lean operational approaches with healthcare’s clinical requirements, creating a new vision for Sterile Processing. Kimsey has several published works and speaks at national and international conferences on Sterile Processing topics, such as Lean. He has managed both onsite and offsite reprocessing centers and consulted large and small healthcare customers. At STERIS, he helps customers, industry partners, international teams, and healthcare systems optimize their SPD/CSSD operations for measurable success. Whether solving labor shortages, leadership deficiencies, strategic decisions, or process and quality issues, Kimsey comes with a desire to see people succeed.

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR, STERIS

STERIS’s mission is to help customers create a healthier and safer world by providing innovative products and services around the globe. STERIS Healthcare works with customers in the perioperative environment to elevate patient care in Operating Rooms, Endoscopy Suites and Sterile Processing departments. Through comprehensive solutions in equipment, consumables, devices and services, we help customers solve their biggest challenges, leverage opportunities for future growth, and advance the care of patients every day. With a long-standing history and commitment in the Sterile Processing department, STERIS understands the need for optimal processes, compliance and outcomes has never been so critical. We work hand-in-hand with customers to provide interconnected offerings to support all areas of reprocessing, from sterilization products and technologies, to instrument management and reprocessing services. For more information, visit www.steris.com/healthcare.

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The quality of our water varies dramatically—by location, season and source—and the presence of impurities can have a significant impact on all aspects of instrument processing. For the safety of our patients, healthcare professionals must be knowledgeable about water types and their uses. As stewards of our facility’s resources, we must understand how water affects our instruments, creating spotting, rusting and staining, and how monitoring water quality prevents wasted money and time.

In episode 134, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Brian Battani of Xylem about water in the Sterile Processing department (SPD). Battani explains the importance of knowing the quality of your municipal water and how it flows through your facility. He discusses today’s water quality standards and treatment processes—water softening, reverse osmosis (RO) and deionization (DI). Battani also advocates for developing a comprehensive facility-wide water management plan. Listen to learn about the science of water and its essential role in the SPD.

ABOUT OUR GUEST - Brian Battani, Senior Business Development Manager, Xylem

Brian Battani is the Senior National Business Development Manager for the Health Sciences team at Xylem. With 15 years in the water treatment industry, his expertise is focused on healthcare customers. Battani actively contributes to advancing industry standards as a Subcommittee Chair for the AAMI TIR119 development workgroup. He holds a master’s degree in Environmental Water Resources Engineering from the University of Michigan. Based near Baltimore, MD, Battani balances his professional endeavors with enjoying quality time with his wife and three children.

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR - Xylem

Water quality plays a critical role in medical procedures, clinical diagnostics and medical research as well as the overall operation of healthcare facilities. Xylem offers high purity water systems, 24/7 service, and a comprehensive support network that helps medical facilities meet current AAMI and CLSI standards for water quality. Our customers are professionals in healthcare settings such as hospitals and medical centers, hemodialysis clinics and medical laboratories.

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Like every business, healthcare systems are vulnerable to cyberattack in all of its many forms. For those in healthcare, however, the security of the information we access has special significance. Healthcare systems keep detailed records of patients’ medical diagnoses, test results, payment methods and insurance providers. Information of this nature falling into the wrong hands can have lasting detrimental effects on our facilities and the people we serve. In Sterile Processing, we are primarily concerned with protecting our patients against infection, but we must also be vigilant in safeguarding their protected health information.

In episode 133, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with John Kampas, CEO of EMPIST, an IT services and security company. Kampas reviews current and emerging types of cyberattacks, especially those specific to healthcare. He discusses the dark web and how bad actors (criminals) use AI and deepfake technology. Kampas also describes common gaps in healthcare systems and provides strategies facilities can use to improve their cybersecurity and protect business records and patient privacy.

Our Guest:

John Kampas, Founder and CEO, EMPIST

John Kampas is the Founder & CEO of EMPIST, a renowned provider of managed IT services, cybersecurity, cloud solutions, and website design & development. After earning his degree in Management Information Systems from Loyola University Chicago, Kampas founded EMPIST (formerly Digerati Group) in 2000. Under his leadership, the company has expanded and earned numerous accolades, including being named one of Channel Futures’ top 501 Managed Service Providers, recognized by CRN as a top 100 Cybersecurity firm, and honored by Expertise as one of Chicago’s Top 20 Best Managed Service Providers. With 25 years of proven success, EMPIST continues to deliver innovative technology solutions to organizations worldwide, driving growth and success through cutting-edge technology and exceptional service.

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What we do as a perioperative team matters. Day and night, 365 days a year, we save, heal and improve the wellbeing of our patients. In the Sterile Processing department (SPD), compliance with evidence- and consensus-based standards and guidelines, as well as government regulations, is of crucial importance to our work and patient safety.

In episode 132, host Casey Czarnowski talks with international healthcare expert and renowned speaker Sharon Greene-Golden who has spent her distinguished career asking questions to better understand and improve processes. Greene-Golden describes compliance as working “in accordance with the established guidelines,” and she reviews the policies and procedures, standards and regulations SPDs need to be following. She also outlines recovery strategies for teams that are falling short of compliance and discusses the meaning of surgical conscience. “We have to be willing to evolve and change with time,” asserts Greene-Golden, which is why acquiring new knowledge and keeping up with continuing education is so essential. After all, she says, “Surgery begins and ends in SPD.”

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