Donald Sipp, MBA, RESE, CHESP, CHTI-2, CMIP, PMP, is the senior director at Ruck-Shockey Associates Inc. and the owner of Impact Training Company, bringing over 20 years of executive leadership experience across health care, education, and retail, as well as more than 15 years of experience as an adjunct instructor in business and leadership. He holds an MBA, a BS in Business Administration, and an AA in Computer Science, along with certifications including PMP, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, CHESP, and RESE.
He is also a member of ICT’s Editorial Advisory Board.
Shared medical equipment, such as IV pumps, workstations on wheels, and wheelchairs, often lacks clear cleaning ownership in hospitals. Experts say that defining responsibility, setting cleaning frequencies, and implementing verification processes can reduce the risk of cross-contamination and strengthen infection prevention programs without adding staff.
"Hospital tray lines operate at high speed to feed hundreds of patients daily. Staff members plate food, cover trays, and load them onto mobile carts that navigate elevators, hallways, and patient rooms. Each of these steps introduces opportunities for contamination."
Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.
