Healthcare Safety

Redesigning Finance from the Inside Out with Sham Firdausi

Santa Clara County's deputy CFO Sham Firdausi on redesigning public health finance, absorbing a $1B shortfall, and embedding finance into clinical operations.

Understanding Joint Commission 360 Standards: What They Mean for SPD Teams (Part 2)

Healthcare teams today are feeling the pressure to move beyond last-minute compliance and instead build processes that work consistently every day. That shift is especially clear in sterile processing departments (SPDs), where the Joint Commission 360 model is redefining what “survey readiness” really means. With patient safety directly tied to instrument quality—and studies consistently…

Understanding Joint Commission 360 Standards: What They Mean for SPD Teams (Part 1)

For a long time, compliance in healthcare was tied to the survey cycle. Now, that model is shifting. With the introduction of Joint Commission 360, organizations are being asked to demonstrate continuous performance—not just preparedness. As patient safety comes under increasing scrutiny, The Joint Commission is moving toward an approach built on real-time data, traceability,…

Exploring the Intersection of Board Governance, Community Engagement and Creativity with Ann Margolin

Behind every city vote, hospital budget or zoning decision is a leader navigating tough, often conflicting priorities. Right now, public leaders are operating in an environment of rising healthcare costs, workforce shortages and heightened community expectations—especially within safety-net systems that collectively provide billions in uncompensated care each year. The stakes are real—they affect patients…

Survey Ready Every Day: Why It’s Not Just a Once-a-Year Activity

Unannounced surveys are no longer the exception in healthcare—they’re the norm. Accrediting bodies increasingly expect sterile processing departments (SPDs) to demonstrate consistent compliance, real-time documentation, and reliable adherence to manufacturers’ instructions for use on any given day, not just during audit season. Joint Commission survey data continue to show that high-level disinfection and sterilization practices…

The Legacy of Dr. G. Duncan Finlay – Episode 6

The Rothman Index, developed by Dr. Michael Rothman and his brother Steven, is a pioneering patient acuity score designed to help clinicians recognize patient deterioration earlier and more clearly. Presented as an easily understood, color-coded graph that updates in real time, the Index displays upward and downward trends in patient condition at a glance—transforming…

The Origin Story of the Rothman Index – Episode 5

Hospitals collect enormous amounts of clinical data, yet preventable patient decline remains a persistent challenge. Over the past two decades, hospitals have invested heavily in early warning scores and rapid response infrastructure, but translating data into timely, meaningful action has proven difficult. As clinicians contend with alert fatigue and increasing documentation burden, a more…

My Mother and the Story of the Genesis of the Rothman Index – Episode 4

Healthcare generates enormous volumes of clinical data, yet making sense of that information in real time remains a challenge. Subtle changes in vitals, labs, and nursing assessments often precede serious events, but when that information is fragmented across the medical record, emerging risks can go unnoticed. The central challenge facing hospitals today is not…

Getting SPD Teams to the Table: Why Sterile Processing Deserves a Central Role in Surgical Planning and Operations

Sterile Processing Departments (SPDs) remain the backbone of safe surgical care, yet across the country, they’re still routinely left out of early decision-making around products, construction, staffing, and case planning. As hospitals juggle tighter margins, higher patient acuity, and growing procedural demands, the consequences of excluding SPD voices become unmistakably real—showing up in daily…

The Silent Foundation of Patient Safety: Why Water Quality Matters in Sterile Processing

In healthcare, patient safety and operational efficiency often depend on invisible systems working perfectly in the background. One of those systems—water quality—has quietly become a defining factor in sterile processing success. With new standards such as AAMI ST108 setting stricter expectations, hospitals, and SPDs (Sterile Processing Departments) are rethinking how they monitor, manage, and measure…

The SPD Hack Playbook: Streamlining Sterile Processing with Smart Tech and Team Buy-In

Sterile Processing Departments (SPDs) are the unsung backbone of surgical care — ensuring every instrument, tray, and tool is safe, sterile, and ready when needed. Yet, despite their vital role, SPD workflows often rely on manual processes and underrecognized best practices. As healthcare systems push for greater efficiency and staff well-being, SPD managers are turning…

How Censis’ AI-Powered Final Check Drives Compliance, Accuracy, and Confidence in Sterile Processing

Sterile processing teams are under constant pressure—handling growing surgical demands, working short-staffed, and navigating strict regulations—so getting every instrument tray assembled right the first time has never mattered more. Even a single assembly error can cascade into costly OR delays or, worse, compromise patient safety. Recent research highlights that most surgical instrument errors stem from…

The Whole Nurse: Design Thinking, Self-healing, and Transformational Belonging

In this episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims, Chief Marketing Officer of TruMerit, welcomes Kathryn Shaffer, EdD, RN, MSN, CNE, CCFP, Director of Innovation at Thomas Jefferson University’s College of Nursing. Kathryn brings a distinctive perspective on reimagining nursing education and practice through a holistic, self-healing lens. The…

Elevating the Standards Together: What We Are Looking Forward to at CtUC 2025

The sterile processing industry stands at a pivotal moment. With surgical case volumes rising while departmental resources remaining flat, the pressure to “do more with less” has never been greater. Nowadays, sterile processing departments (SPDs) are struggling with high staff turnover and growing compliance requirements. And while these regulations are designed to improve patient…

Smarter Sterile Processing Starts with Data—Boosting Efficiency, Cutting Costs, and Improving Patient Care

In a healthcare ecosystem increasingly driven by data, sterile processing departments (SPDs) find themselves at a crossroads—balancing precision and pace, safety and speed. As hospitals look to reduce inefficiencies and protect patient safety, analytics tools are transforming sterile processing from an often overlooked backroom function into a vital, data-enhanced frontline of care. Research shows…

Challenges of Identifying and Reducing Sepsis Mortality – Episode 2

Michael Rothman explores the complexities of sepsis identification and management, highlighting the challenges posed by varying definitions and clinical pathways. He discusses the ineffectiveness of current sepsis screening protocols, which often yield high false-positive rates and fail to reduce mortality meaningfully. The episode concludes by questioning the focus on sepsis-specific initiatives and suggesting that more…

Debunking Sepsis Myths – Episode 1

In the first episode of The Michael Rothman podcast, we address misconceptions about sepsis in healthcare. Although it’s often claimed that sepsis accounts for nearly a third of hospital deaths, many of these deaths are linked to chronic conditions with sepsis as a secondary factor. The frequently cited statistic that delays in treating sepsis increase…

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

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…

Bridging Gaps in Instrument Tracking: A Global Perspective on SPD Innovation

In healthcare environments where precision and accountability are paramount, sterile processing departments (SPDs) play a critical behind-the-scenes role. As hospitals worldwide embrace technology to close compliance gaps and improve operational transparency, the introduction of patient-centric tracking tools marks a major leap forward. Tying surgical instruments directly to patient records not only strengthens traceability—it reinforces trust…

Inside the SPD Revolution: Robby Miller on Embracing CensisAI²

A healthcare leader with three decades of experience reveals how AI technology is transforming sterile processing operations

Beyond the Myths: The Truth About Vision AI Security, Ethics, and Privacy

Separating fact from fear about how computer vision actually protects people in high-risk environments

Smart Tools, Safer Patients: Dr. Arpita Hazra Talks AI in Healthcare

Hospitals are leveraging machine learning and clinical data to identify safety risks before they harm patients

Sterile Compounding and Contamination Control with Abby Roth

A microbiologist explains why contamination control is critical to pharmaceutical compounding safety

The High Stakes of Authenticating Professional Credentials

Healthcare systems face mounting risks when credential verification fails to catch intentional deception among medical professionals

Building Tomorrow Together: What We Are Looking Forward to at CtUC 2024

Sterile processing leaders gather to shape the future of perioperative healthcare through innovation and collaboration

Tackling Productivity Challenges in Perioperative and SPD: Insights from Brian Dawson

Healthcare operations leaders face critical tradeoffs between OR efficiency and patient safety that demand strategic solutions

The Power of Self-Compassion in Leadership and Cognitive Diversity Can Transform Workplaces

Leaders who embrace self-compassion and cognitive diversity create workplaces where belonging thrives and employee isolation diminishes

CtUC 2023 Kevin Bevill Facility Awards Winners

Healthcare facilities are leveraging data analytics to revolutionize sterile processing and operational excellence

Fostering a Culture of Engagement is Key to Combating Employee Disengagement and Quiet Quitting

Leaders are discovering that reversing historically low engagement rates requires moving beyond surface-level retention tactics to build workplaces where employ

Radical Humility is The Leadership Strategy for Stronger Teams and Open Culture

Leaders who embrace vulnerability and self-awareness unlock the psychological safety their teams need to truly engage and perform