ASHCSP Announces Plans to Merge with IAHCSMM to Create Stronger Voice for the Central Service Profession

CHICAGO -- Creating a stronger, more unified front for the central service profession is one step closer to reality. The American Society for Healthcare Central Service Professionals (ASHCSP), a membership group of the American Hospital Association, announced today its intent to merge with the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM).

This merger represents a significant milestone toward these organizations ongoing commitment for the central service/sterile processing profession. A unified organization will create a stronger voice for the industrys professionals, which include technicians, supervisors, managers, directors, and educators.

Today's healthcare challenges lead many hospitals to merge. Recruitment for specialists in the sterilization field is getting tough. This unification creates a critical mass that will lead to a stable foundation, eliminate duplication, and allow us to build for the future says Penny Sabrosky, 2007 ASHCSP president. It will bring together two nationally recognized organizations for quality and combination of resources in the sterile processing world.

The healthcare community as a whole will benefit from this merger through stronger educational materials, robust educational conferences, enhanced lobbying efforts, and a single organization to conduct future business in a prompt, efficient manner. Energies, talent and finances spent supporting two organizations will now be focused on one entity to develop new products and enhance existing quality documents and educational resources.

I, along with the rest of the IAHCSMM executive board, applaud ASHCSPs commitment to the advancement of the profession a goal that is wholeheartedly shared by IAHCSMM, said IAHCSMM president Richard Schule. The groups vision for a unified voice will set the stage for decades to come and enable the CS profession to advance, raise the bar and be truly instrumental to patient care.

Although CS professionals have always been a key contributor to quality patient care delivery, the discipline has become increasingly recognized in the healthcare, legislative and general communities in recent years. Advancing technology and infection control-related challenges, as well as increased regulatory requirements for sterilization and infection control protocols, have led to a more intense focus on the ongoing education and certification of CS staff.

Education, certification and support are critical to the success of CS. Having a unified association tailored to the ever-changing needs of the profession will go a long way in helping CS staff manage the function most effectively, added Schule.

Finalization of this business transaction is expected within the next several weeks.

Source: ASHCSP