Latest Conference Coverage

The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) is set to host its largest event of the year—Exchange Summit 2025—from June 8 to 11 in Columbus, Ohio. With over 600 environmental services (EVS) professionals expected to attend, this year’s conference focuses heavily on infection prevention, interdepartmental collaboration, and education that empowers frontline health care support leaders to improve patient safety and operational efficiency.

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 rare Tennessee outbreak of Mycobacterium fortuitum revealed deep gaps in infection prevention at outpatient surgery centers—where oversight, staffing, and reporting often fall short.

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.

A new study presented at the 2025 SHEA Spring Conference reveals that while infectious disease consults do influence hospitalists’ use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, the relationship is anything but straightforward—challenging assumptions in antimicrobial stewardship and offering new insights into prescribing behavior.

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.

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.

With staffing shortages and rising infection risks, the TEPHI 200-Series delivers accessible, high-impact training to empower healthcare professionals and strengthen infection prevention efforts nationwide.

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.

Vatsala Srinivasa, MPH's, research uses genomic sequencing to track hospital transmission of respiratory viruses, revealing hidden links and highlighting the potential for improved infection prevention.

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.

Sterile processing departments face high-stakes challenges daily. At AORN 2025, Marjorie Wall outlined transformative strategies to improve safety, efficiency, and cross-departmental collaboration, and also discussed HSPA 2025.

Sterile processing expert Kevin Anderson urges perioperative nurses to deepen collaboration with SPD teams to enhance OR efficiency, reduce SSIs, and improve patient outcomes.

ICT interviews Damien Berg, VP of strategic initiatives, who promises HSPA education, outreach, and growth. It will empower sterile processing professionals through standards updates, networking, and renewed purpose in patient safety.

Communication breakdowns between the operating room and central processing led to delays and frustration—until collaboration, cross-training, and shared goals turned metrics around and strengthened teamwork.

Occupational exposure to surgical smoke significantly alters biological and oxidative stress markers in operating room staff, highlighting urgent risks and the need for improved safety measures.

Houston Methodist West Hospital reduced surgical site infections in hysterectomy and colorectal cases by implementing an intraoperative isolation bundle and checklist to prevent cross-contamination.

A Portuguese hospital team significantly improved operating room cleanliness through targeted training, UV audits, and interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing patient safety and infection prevention at AORN 2025.

At AORN 2025, Dr. Michael Sinnott called for a unified safety culture—one that protects both patients and staff through shared responsibility, accountability, and systemic change.

Pennsylvania Hospital cut complex spinal fusion surgical site infections by over 31% through a multidisciplinary initiative focused on evidence-based interventions and collaborative surgical care.

A barcode-based tracking system for surgical instruments has slashed packing errors, boosted staff training, and dramatically improved patient safety through precise, real-time traceability.

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.