Beyond Clean Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Decontamination Ground Game: Why Cleaning Your SPD Floors Matters May 05, 2025

Show notes

Hey #CleanFreaks -- What if the dirtiest surface in your SPD's decontam isn't at your workstation, but on the floor you're standing on? This week, we welcome infection prevention expert Ericka Kalp to expose the hidden dangers lurking on the surface of your SPD's floors—and why ignoring them could be putting your patients and your team at risk. From selecting the right disinfectants to establishing clear cleaning accountability between departments, Ericka reveals how those microscopic microbes under your shoes are leaving behind a trail of contamination with every step you take. If you've ever walked into decon and asked, "Why is the floor so sticky?"—this is one conversation you don't want to miss!

Season 28 of Beyond Clean releases under the 1 Episode = 1 CE delivery model. After finishing this interview, earn your 1 CE credit immediately by passing the short quiz linked below each week. Visit our CE Credit Hub at https://www.beyondcleanmedia.com/ce-credit-hub to access this quiz and over 350 other free CE credits.

#BeyondClean #SterileProcessing #WeFightDirty #Podcast #Season28 #Contamination #DecontamFloors

StreetClothes: The Doula May 04, 2025

Show notes

On this episode 4 of the StreetClothes podcast, we talk to Lindsay Brown, a Minnesota clinician who has a passion project unlike any other! Not only does she know where babies come from (every child's eternal question), she also knows how clinical expertise beautifully combines with nurturing care during life's very first moments.

Tune in to hear how Linds's work as a doula brings comfort and advocacy to the birthing experience outside of her 9-5 healthcare role...

If you like this series OR have an interesting side-hustle, passion project, or hobby you do outside of your hospital day job that keeps you inspired, refreshed, and motivated, we'd love to hear from you! Message Hank Balch on LinkedIn for a chance to come on the show and share it with the world!

#StreetClothes #Hobbies #SideHustles #PeopleMatter #Healthcare #BeyondClean #FirstCase #PowerSupply #TransmissionControl #HealthcareHQ

Everything is Cleaner in Texas: The Good Works of SPD: Upskilling into a Career with Impact May 03, 2025

Show notes

Across the great state of Texas and beyond, Sterile Processing pros are sharpening their skills, building confidence, and making a real impact where it matters most – patient safety. In this week's episode of Everything is Cleaner in Texas, hosts Hank Balch and Dusty Glass team up with Kurt Van Sickel, Program Director and Career Coach at Good Works Collective, to spotlight the power of professional development in SPD. From the classroom to #FightingDirty in decontam, Kurt shares how upskilling, soft-skill training, and real-world mentorship are opening career doors – and powering the next generation of #CleanFreaks. Ready to invest in your team – or yourself? This one's for you!

A special thanks to our sponsor, STERIS IMS, for making this series possible! Their commitment to education and excellence in the Sterile Processing industry has been instrumental in bringing this series to life. Make sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook so you never miss a new episode!

#BeyondClean #STERISIMS #EverythingIsCleanerInTexas #SterileProcessing

Process Better: Navigating Instrument Damage: Care, Handling, & Quality Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

Instrument damage is more than just a headache—it's costly, disruptive, and far more common than most realize. So, how can we prevent it before it even happens? In Episode 2 of our "Process Better" series, Tory Teakell, Clinical Solutions Manager at Medline, joins us to explore the most common causes of instrument damage across surgical workflows— and how better care, handling, and training can reduce damage and raise the bar for quality. From transport to assembly and back again, Tory walks us through practical steps to protect your SPD's instruments and your bottom line. If broken tags are becoming a common sight in your department, this episode is for you!

This dynamic 5-part series takes you inside the core workflows of Sterile Processing—from point-of-use cleaning to instrument management and everything in between. With each episode, you'll hear real-world strategies to help your team improve consistency, boost collaboration, and elevate instrument quality from start to finish.

Whether you're assembling trays, managing inventory, or training the next generation, this series is packed with insights to help your team process better every instrument, every time. A special thanks to our sponsor, Medline Industries, LP, for making this series possible!

#BeyondClean #Medline #ProcessBetter #InstrumentReprocessing #SterileProcessing #InstrumentDamage #CareAndHandling

Are You Sinking Your Own Decon Ship? The Icebergs of Sink Workflows Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Three bays, two basins, or one compliance nightmare? When it comes to your decontam sinks, the wrong setup doesn't just slow you down – it can send your entire workflow underwater! On this episode of Beyond Clean's Planet Decontam, Jessie Lopez joins us to break down why the proper sink setup can make or break your entire reprocessing cycle. From missing rinses and awkward sink setups to chemical confusion and ergonomic nightmares, we're uncovering how these small missteps at the sink can compromise your workflows and create real compliance challenges for your SPD. If your decontam sinks are creating more obstacles than solutions, this is one conversation that might just keep your department from sailing into troubled waters!

#BeyondClean #SterileProcessing #WeFightDirty #Podcast #Season28 #DecontamSinks #Compliance #Workflows

Everything is Cleaner in Texas: SPD in the Texas Medical Center Apr 26, 2025

Show notes

Everything's bigger in Texas—and that's especially true in the Texas Medical Center, where the pace never slows and the pressure is always on! In this episode of Everything is Cleaner in Texas, hosts Hank Balch and Dusty Glass sit down with Anna Castillo-Gutierrez for a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to work inside one of the most complex, high-volume medical centers in the country. From nonstop surgical schedules to navigating rapid turnarounds, Anna shares how her Sterile Processing team rises to the challenge every day—and why education, communication, and resilience are key in SPD. Tune in for a powerful glimpse into what it takes to keep #FightingDirty deep in the heart of Houston!

#BeyondClean #STERISIMS #EverythingIsCleanerInTexas #SterileProcessing

Beyond Clean Canada: The Power of Industry Disruption Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

What started as a podcast quickly became a global platform for Sterile Processing education—and in our Season 1 finale, we're sitting down with the man behind the mic, the #OriginalCleanFreak himself, Hank Balch. As the Co-Founder and President of Beyond Clean, Hank takes us behind the scenes of how one idea—offering free, accessible Sterile Processing educational content—has reshaped how frontline professionals learn, connect, and lead. From launching the first CE-approved podcast to building a 350+ FREE CE library, Hank shares how disruption, innovation, and community have fueled a movement that's still gaining speed. Buckle up, #CanadianCleanFreaks—this finale brings the vision, the purpose, and the #FightingDirty energy that started it all!

A special shout-out to Solventum for sponsoring Season 1 of the Beyond Clean Canada Podcast! Make sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook so you're always in the loop for every episode!

#BeyondCleanCanada #MDR #SterileProcessing #IndustryDisruption #BeyondClean #Education #Podcast #Solventum

Process Better: Better Point-of-Use Cleaning: Together We Win Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Point-of-use cleaning is one of the most critical—and most often missed—steps in the reprocessing cycle. So, how do we build workflows that keep this step front and center? In this premiere episode of our exclusive new podcast series "Process Better," Tory Teakell, Clinical Solutions Manager at Medline, helps us redefine what effective point-of-use cleaning really looks like. From aligning with current guidelines to closing the communication gap between SPD and the OR, Tory breaks down the real reasons this step gets overlooked— and outlines what it takes to build a process that actually works. If your team is struggling with compliance, consistency, or collaboration, this episode offers a fresh approach to getting it right from the start. Press play and join us today!

#BeyondClean #Medline #ProcessBetter #InstrumentReprocessing #SterileProcessing #PointOfUse

Planet Decontam: The IFU Memory Maze: Is Decontamination IFU Compliance Achievable? Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

Picture it: You're standing in decontam, 10 case carts deep, trying to track down the right IFU—and the OR rushes in with a STAT turnaround tray. In this moment, memory, speed, and accuracy collide—and compliance is put to the test! On this week's episode of Beyond Clean's Planet Decontam, Art Babiy joins us to tackle the real-world challenges hidden inside instrument IFUs. From real-time access issues to the serious risks of non-compliance, we explore why true IFU compliance remains one of the toughest hurdles in Sterile Processing. If you're tired of getting lost in a maze of IFUs, this is one conversation you don't want to miss.

#BeyondClean #SterileProcessing #WeFightDirty #Podcast #Season28 #IFU #Compliance

StreetClothes: The Chicken Tenders Apr 20, 2025

Show notes

On this episode 3 of our brand new StreetClothes human-interest podcast series, we talk to two healthcare professionals who have a passion project that's far from fowl play! Not only have they created their own backyard flock of feathered friends, they've also cracked the code for beating those sky-high egg prices!

Tune in to hear how Sean Weir & Stacey Gielen became known as the "Chicken Tenders" and how these quirky birds bring sustainable joy to their lives outside the hospital...

#StreetClothes #Hobbies #SideHustles #PeopleMatter #Healthcare #BeyondClean #FirstCase #PowerSupply #TransmissionControl #HealthcareHQ

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