Sterile Processing & Infection Prevention in the ASC

Monday, August 5 – Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Maintaining good infection prevention techniques and strategies in the sterile processing department (SPD) is essential in reducing the risk of transmission of microbial pathogens. This course will provide valuable insights to help assist sterile processing technicians, infection preventionists and other key ASC personnel in achieving positive patient outcomes while ensuring patient and staff safety.

Pricing

	Sterile Processing and Infection Prevention in the ASC Single Course Only	Bundle & Save Four Courses for the Price of Three
Members	$248	$738
Nonmembers	$299	$889
	Register Now	Learn More

Pricing

Sterile Processing and Infection Prevention in the ASC

Single Course Only

Members	$248
Non-Members	$299

Register Now

Bundle & Save

Get access to all four courses for one low price.

Members	$738
Non-Members	$889

Lean More

Agenda

Monday, August 5, 2024

12:00 pm–1:00 pm ET

The Role of the Sterile Processing Technician in the ASC

In ASCs, the role of the sterile processing technician is critical. This individual is responsible for the cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of instruments. There are many detailed processes that must be followed. Join this session to get a high-level overview of the role of the sterile processing technician. We will review guidelines and standards; examine the disease transmission process; and discuss training, certification and regulations related to sterile processing.

AEU Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care

IPCH Content Area: Infection Prevention Strategies

Lisa Berus, MEd, MSN, RN, CASSPT, CNAMB, CAIP Senior Director, Clinical Education and Training SCA Health

1:15 pm–2:15 pm ET

Cleaning and Packaging of Surgical Instruments and Devices

Dive into best practices for cleaning and decontaminating surgical instruments and devices as well as the inspection, testing and packaging of instruments and devices. All information will be based on the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation's national standards.

AEU Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care

IPCH Content Area: Instrument/Equipment Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization

Nancy Chobin, RN, AAS, ACSP, CSPM, CFER President Sterile Processing University

2:30 pm–3:30 pm ET

Sterilization Essentials: Back to the Basics of a Complex Processs

In healthcare, we all continually work to ensure positive patient outcomes. The sterile processing department plays a critical role in meeting this goal. Patient safety is dependent on effective instrument sterilization. Sterilization is often seen as a simple process, but in reality, it is complex and requires a thorough understanding of all the steps involved. In this session, we will dive into the details of the two main types of sterilization used in healthcare settings: steam and vaporized hydrogen peroxide. This will include a review of quality control measures and sterilization assurance processes that are essential to delivering safe patient care and are supported by nationally recognized guidelines and standards.

AEU Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care

IPCH Content Area: Instrument/Equipment Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization

Jennifer Zeck, BSN, RN, CRCST, CER, CIS Clinical Specialist-Device Reprocessing 3M Health Care

3:45 pm–4:45 pm ET

Update on Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome

Although there is less conversation surrounding Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome (TASS), it still exists and poses a threat if steps are not taken to mitigate the risk of it occurring. This presentation will compare the differences between TASS and endophthalmitis and discuss the etiology of TASS. Preventative measures with instrument cleaning and sterilization procedures to prevent TASS will be described as well as the effects of water quality on instrument reprocessing.

AEU Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care

IPCH Content Area: Instrument/Equipment Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization

Barbara Ann Harmer, MHA, BSN, RN Vice President Clinical Services Innovative Sterilization Technologies

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

12:00 pm–1:00 pm ET

High-Level Disinfection: Every Step is Critical

Managing medical instruments and endoscopes through the high-level disinfection (HLD) process is complex and cumbersome. There are over 100 steps to accurately perform HLD, and each is critical to ensure patient safety and infection prevention. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of each step in performing high-level disinfection on semi-critical medical equipment and endoscopes. Topics covered will include evidence-based processes in documentation, staff orientation and annual education, and process audits. The presenter has over twenty years of experience in managing, educating, and consulting on HLD processes, education, and audits and has achieved both her CGRN and CFER certifications.

AEU Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care

IPCH Content Area: Instrument/Equipment Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization

Kelly Osborne, DNP, APRN, AGCNS-BC, CGRN, CEFR Clinical Nurse Specialist Duke Health

1:15 pm–2:15 pm ET

Surgical Instrument Set Optimization

Optimizing the surgical instrument sets used in your facility has many benefits, but it can be a challenging effort, requiring the entire perioperative team to come together to find the best solutions for all involved. Optimizing instrument sets and surgeon preference cards can also result in significant savings of time, space and human resources, allowing everyone to keep the focus squarely on patient care. This session will define surgical instrument set optimization, illustrate the benefits of optimizing the sets used in your facility, address challenges to the process and discuss real-world solutions to those challenges.

AEU Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care

IPCH Content Area: Infection Prevention Strategies

Casey Czarnowski, BA, CRCST, CIS, CER Perioperative Consultant Czarnowski Healthcare Consulting

2:30 pm–3:30 pm ET

How the SPD, OR and Infection Preventionist Work Together

How does the infection preventionist work with the sterile processing department (SPD) and the OR? It can be intimidating to go into a very specialized area and present yourself as an authority when you feel unprepared and out of place. Transitioning to the surgery center from the hospital setting—even with a board certification in infection control—can be challenging, but success is attainable through clear communication, a willingness to learn and collaboration with the leaders of those areas.

AEU Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care

IPCH Content Area: Surveillance, Data Collection and Analysis

Mary Lee Barnes, MST, RN, CIC, CAIP, CJCP, CPHQ, HACP, CNAMB, NHDP-BC, CHES, CCE QAPI/IP Coordinator Surgicenter of Murfreesboro Medical Clinic

3:45 pm–4:45 pm ET

Pulling It All Together

The sterile processing department (SPD) and staff are vital members of your center’s infection prevention program. While often forgotten, they touch every patient that comes through your organization. Understanding and implementing processes for the proper care and handling of instruments and equipment takes a team approach. Everyone from the surgeon to SPD staff play an important role in maintaining surgical/procedural instruments and ensuring a break in the chain of infection by providing clean/disinfected/sterile instruments. Throughout this course, you have heard the hows and whys of achieving the best possible outcomes and decreasing the incidence of surgical site infections. We all want what's best for our patients and our speakers have given us the tools to succeed.

AEU Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care

IPCH Content Area: Surveillance, Data Collection and Analysis

Laurie T. Roderiques, BSN, RN, CNOR, LNC, CAIP, CASC Director, Clinical Services Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies

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Continuing Education

Nursing contact hours, IPCHs and AEUs will be offered. Additional information, including the specific number of credits, will be provided closer to the event.

Disclosure

These presentations may include opinions, advice, statements, materials, data, images, videos, documentation, and other information (“Materials”) expressed or shared by presenters. The Materials are for informational purposes only, and the statements, views, and opinions expressed at any presentation, or in any Materials, are those solely of the presenter and not of ASCA. Further, ASCA does not endorse or recommend any specific presenter, promoter, company, or center, or any views mentioned at any conference or meeting, or in the Materials. Under no circumstances, will ASCA (or its directors, officers, employees, or agents) be liable for the accuracy, quality, or reliability of any of the presentations or Materials, or any defamatory, offensive, or illegal conduct of presenters, including but not limited to intellectual property infringement, or any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages arising from any presentations, or Materials.

Cancellation Policy

Registration fees are nonrefundable.

Can’t attend? Someone from your facility can attend in your place. Substitutions can be made free of charge for your initial substitution and $55 for each additional. All requests must be made in writing and sent via email to the ASCA Meetings Department at registration@ascassociation.org.