Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Annual Conference & Expo

Despite their smooth, polished exteriors, surgical instruments often harbor dangerous contaminants deep inside their lumens. At the HSPA25 and APIC25 conferences, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and her colleagues revealed why borescopes are an indispensable tool for sterile processing teams, offering the only reliable way to verify internal cleanliness and improve sterile processing effectiveness to prevent patient harm.

In this interview, completed shortly before the HSPA 2025 conference, as she prepared to take the helm as HSPA’s next president, Arlene Bush, CRCST, CER, CIS, SME, DSMD, CRMST, discusses humility, determination, and a bold vision to elevate sterile processing professionals and broaden the association’s impact.

At the 2025 Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Annual Conference & Expo, Cheron Rojo, BS, FCS, CHL, CIS, CER, CFER, CRCST, spotlighted real-world gaps in sterile processing education, stressing the urgent need for better tools, training, and collaboration when handling intricate medical devices like shaver handpieces.

At the 2025 HSPA conference, experts emphasized the vital role of detergents and enzymatic cleaners in reprocessing medical devices—highlighting how temperature, concentration, and technique directly impact cleaning performance in today’s increasingly complex surgical instrumentation.

A routine audit at Texas Children’s Hospital uncovered systemwide gaps in sterile processing, revealing deeper issues and reinforcing the critical role of education and equipment oversight.

Sterile processing departments must be ready to maintain continuity and patient safety—even when technology fails. A downtime playbook can make all the difference.

Clear, consistent alignment between infection preventionists and sterile processing teams on IFUs is essential for safe reprocessing—and increasingly achievable with the right tools and mindset.

Hannah Schroeder, BSHA, CRCST, CIS, CHL, CER, presented a workshop at HSPA Annual Conference on how sterile processing leaders are turning to quality management systems like AAMI ST90 to drive data-informed decisions, justify resources, and improve department-wide outcomes through advocacy.

With his term as HSPA president concluded at the end of the HSPA Annual Conference, Anthony Bondon CRCST, CHL, BSM, AAS, SME, LSSYB, reflects on the power of connection, service, and why sterile processing professionals are the true champions of health care.

Social media offers opportunities to showcase sterile processing work, but a single misstep can risk compromising patient privacy, incurring legal consequences, and damaging your facility’s public reputation.

Sterile processing leaders need more than technical expertise—they require business, collaboration, and leadership skills to gain autonomy, improve outcomes, and elevate the role within health care.

Elizabeth (Betty) Casey, MSN, RN, CNOR, CRCST, CHL, is the SVP of Operations and Chief Nursing Officer at Surgical Solutions in Overland, Kansas. This SPD leader reframes preparation, unpredictability, and teamwork by comparing surgical services to the Kentucky Derby to reenergize sterile processing professionals and inspire systemic change.

UF Health’s offsite reprocessing center offers a model for scalability, efficiency, and staff support as hospitals face space limitations and growing surgical volumes. Sara Vinson, MBA, CRCST, director of sterile processing will discuss it at the 2025 HSPA Annual Conference.

John Kimsey’s interactive sterile processing department game bridges understanding between the operating room and sterile processing teams, promoting collaboration, hands-on learning, and improved patient safety through real-world simulation.

From expert speakers to cutting-edge tools, sterile processing conferences, like the 2025 HSPA Annual Conference and the SoCal SPA's Spring Conference, offer unmatched opportunities to grow your skills, expand your network, and strengthen your department's infection prevention game.

At HSPA 2024, Lila Price, CRCST, CER, CHL, and Dannie O. Smith, III, BSc, CSPDT, CRCST, CHL, CIS, CER, emphasized accurate instrument labeling and demonstrated a game to improve communication between the operating room and sterile processing departments.

Cheri Ackert-Burr, DNP, BAEd, RN, CNOR, CNS, AGTS, discusses optimizing drying strategies for medical devices, crucial in instrument processing, emphasizing efficiency gains and insights shared at the HSPA Annual Conference.

HSPA’s 2024-2025 president, Anthony Bondon, CRCST, CHL, BSM, AAS, SME, LSSYB, spoke with Infection Control Today to discuss his goals for his tenure and more.

Explore how Exeter Hospital revamped sustainability efforts, reducing waste, improving efficiency, and saving costs in the sterile processing department, as presented at HSPA 2024.

Discover how a playful, educational approach revolutionized continuous learning for a sterile processing department from a poster presented at the HSPA Conference 2024.

Check out the highlights so far from Infection Control Today at the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from April 20 to April 23, 2024.

The CMCVAMC Sterile Processing Services Department presents their roadmap for success at HSPA 2024, focusing on workflow, instrumentation, tools, tracking, and SOPs.

CSSD at Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital presents a poster at HSPA 2024, outlining efforts to streamline loaner equipment management for surgical efficiency.

This presentation by Jill Holdsworth, MS, CIC, FAPIC, CRCST, NREMT, CHL, at HSPA 2024, focuses on understanding and implementing ANSI/AAMI ST79 Amendment 1 to improve environmental services in sterile processing.

Jill Holdsworth, MS, CIC, FAPIC, CRCST, NREMT, CHL, and Katie Belski, BSHCA, CRCST, CHL, CIS, spoke at the HSPA Annual Conference about being survey-ready. Listen to ICT's interview to learn more!

Lisa Pawlowski, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, CRMST, presents a poster at the HSPA 2024 Conference highlighting an evidence-based bundle that reduces SSIs by improving post-use instrument care and storage practices.

Explore the fusion of process monitoring and situation awareness in sterile processing, fostering informed decision-making for safe patient care from a presentation at HSPA24.

Improper handling of insulated instruments can lead to serious complications, including fatal surgical site infections for patients and staff.

Sterilization in hospitals often lacks coordination with other departments, which may hinder knowledge exchange and performance. What can be done to overcome this challenge?

A veteran in the sterile processing field, Sharon Greene-Golden gave several presentations at the HSPA Annual Conference. She spoke to ICT about them.