How is AI being used in sterile processing departments (SPDs)?

AI is being applied in SPDs to automate instrument tracking, flag compliance gaps, and reduce reliance on manual documentation. These tools help ensure surgical instruments are properly sterilized and available, lowering the risk of surgical delays or patient harm.

What challenges are driving hospitals to adopt AI in surgical and SPD workflows?

Hospitals are contending with significant staff shortages, escalating operational costs, and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. These pressures make manual processes unsustainable, pushing facilities toward technology solutions that can improve accuracy and efficiency without proportionally increasing headcount.

What is Censis and how does it address surgical instrument management?

Censis Technologies is a provider of surgical inventory and sterile processing management software. Their solutions are designed to give hospitals real-time visibility into instrument trays, sterilization records, and OR readiness, helping reduce errors and support compliance across the perioperative environment.

From SPD to OR: AI in Surgery Is Raising th...

From SPD to OR: AI in Surgery Is Raising the Bar on Patient Safety

Hospitals are under pressure from staff shortages, rising costs, and stricter compliance requirements, particularly in surgical suites and sterile processing departments (SPDs). Censis explores how AI-driven technologies are helping these departments move beyond manual, fragmented processes to improve patient safety and operational efficiency. The piece draws on American Hospital Association data showing nearly a third of hospitals are affected by these compounding challenges.

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By Healthcare · June 5, 2025, 4:32 PM UTCAi in HealthcareCensis TechnologiesHarshil GoradiaPatient Safety

Key takeaways

Surgical suites and SPDs are among the most resource-intensive hospital areas, yet many still rely on manual workflows and disconnected data systems.

AI-powered solutions are being applied across the SPD-to-OR continuum to reduce errors, improve instrument tracking, and strengthen compliance.

Staff shortages and rising costs are accelerating hospital interest in automation and intelligent tools to sustain patient safety standards.

Hospitals are facing mounting pressure from staff shortages, rising costs, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements. Surgical suites and sterile processing departments (SPDs) are two of the most resource-intensive areas, yet many still rely on manual processes and fragmented data. According to the American Hospital Association, nearly 1,400 hospitals, or 31 percent of hospitals, reported a critical staffing shortage to the federal government as of January 19, 2022, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions. In response, AI in surgery is gaining traction as a practical tool to augment clinical teams and streamline perioperative workflows without compromising patient safety.

How can hospitals use AI to increase surgical efficiency, meet compliance standards, and improve patient outcomes without overwhelming already-burdened staff?

This episode of ConCensis by Censis Technologies, hosted by Amy Chadoff, features Harshil Goradia, Chief Technology Officer and VP of IT at Censis. Together, they explore how AI in surgery is transforming sterile processing and operating rooms, highlighting real-world examples from hospital networks and unpacking how AI is shifting from pilot phase to enterprise necessity.

Key Highlights:

AI Drives Throughput Without Adding Burden: At St. Luke’s Health Network, AI tools helped increase sterilization throughput by 20 percent, processing 5,000 more trays a month with the same staff.
Agentic AI Enables Real-Time Action: Emerging agentic AI can autonomously adjust surgical schedules, flag shortages, and optimize workflows, offering actionable insights instead of just analytics.
Compliance and Safety at Scale: AI supports SPD technicians by cross-referencing IFUs in real time, identifying assembly errors, and improving standardization across facilities.

Harshil Goradia is the Chief Technology Officer and VP of IT at Censis Technologies, where he leads R&D, AI innovation, and IT strategy. Prior to Censis, he served in the AI Center of Excellence at Fortive and spearheaded digital transformation initiatives in manufacturing and healthcare. His background spans predictive analytics, generative AI, and large-scale system integration, making him a thought leader in operationalizing AI across healthcare environments.