Sterile Processing 101: Inspection & Assembly - The Art of Building a Reliable Tray
Release Date: 04/27/2026
Sterile Processing 101: Inspection & Assembly - The Art of Building a Reliable Tray
First Case Podcast
How reliable is the tray you open every day? In today's episode, we step into inspection and assembly where cleaned instruments are tested, examined, and built into the trays your OR depends on. This conversation with Kevin Anderson highlights why tray assembly is about far more than checking off a count sheet. From instrument function testing and damaged equipment to borescopes, insulation testing, and missing items, this episode reveals the science behind building a dependable tray. Listen now and gain a new appreciation for the work that happens before the tray reaches your...
info_outline
Sterile Processing 101: Decontam Deep Dive - What Happens After The Case Cart Leaves the Room
First Case Podcast
What really happens after your case cart leaves the OR? To find out, we're diving into decontam to discover the critical next step in the instrument reprocessing lifecycle. From point-of-use treatment to manual and mechanical cleaning, this episode unpacks what it actually takes to get instruments safe, clean, and ready for the next patient. Joined by Julie Gorog, OR nurse and Clinical Education Consultant with Advanced Sterilization Products, we explore why cleaning is the most crucial step in reprocessing, how biofilm forms faster than you think, and what OR teams can do to set sterile...
info_outline
Sterile Processing 101: Point of Use Treatment - The OR's Role in Sterile Processing
First Case Podcast
What happens to your instruments during the case matters more than you think. In this interview with Mike Matthews, we break down point-of-use treatment and why sterile processing actually starts in the OR, not decontam. From biofilm risk to instrument damage, this episode highlights how small actions during a case have big downstream consequences. This episode challenges the โnot my problemโ mindset and reinforces a critical truth: ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐-๐ผ๐ณ-๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น - ๐ถ๐โ๐...
info_outline
Sterile Processing 101: From Dirty to Sterile - The Instrument Reprocessing Lifecycle
First Case Podcast
Welcome to a new season of the First Case podcast - Sterile Processing 101! Weโre kicking off the season with a conversation that sets the foundation for the entire series and challenges a big misconception: ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐บโฆ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฅ. In this conversation with Jen Parrott, we introduce the full instrument reprocessing lifecycle and explore why understanding this process is essential for every...
info_outline
The Hidden World of Biofilm: Exploring the Dangers Lurking in our Instruments
First Case Podcast
What do the plaque on your teeth, soap scum, and slippery rocks down by the creek all have in common? Theyโre all examples of biofilm! But these arenโt the only places that biolfims can form โ they can also be found on our surgical instruments and inside our bodies. Joining us today to talk about all things biofilm is Mike Matthews, Director of Customer Education at Agiliti. In this interview, weโll discover how biofilm forms, the ways in which it can cause infection, and what we can do in the Operating Room to help prevent it. Stay tuned! Love our show? Download our First Case...
info_outline
Top 10: General Surgery
First Case Podcast
General surgery is where many perioperative nurses begin their OR journey. Itโs one of the most diverse and foundational specialties in the operating room, touching everything from colorectal and thyroid cases to breast, abdominal, and head & neck procedures. In this First Case Articles-On-The-Go, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR breaks down the Top 10 things OR teams should know about general surgery - from being ready to convert laparoscopic cases to open, to understanding patient positioning, implants, ERAS protocols, hemostatic agents, and proper drain management. Whether you're new...
info_outline
Microbes in Motion: Understanding Pathogen Transfer & Environmental Contamination
First Case Podcast
How long can pathogens live on a surface? What is the likelihood that we are transferring organisms from surfaces we touch to our patients or to our family members? Joining us today to discuss microbiology and infection prevention is Dr. Wava Truscott, Director of Regulatory Affairs and clinical Education at Shield Technology, Inc. Learn with us as Wava discusses environmental contamination, pathogens that we see in our hospitals, disinfectants, and small colony variants. Donโt miss this interview! Love our show? Download our First Case mobile app on: ๐ฒ Apple users: https://zcu.io/gExL...
info_outline
Ensuring Scope Safety: Preventing Infection Through Proper Cleaning, Care, & Data Collection
First Case Podcast
What is the MAUDE Database, and what does it have to do with the Operating Room? Answering this question and connecting the dots for us today is Dr. Larry Muscarella, PhD, President and Principal at LFM Healthcare Solutions, LLC. Tune in as we dive into the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database, as we discuss medical devices like gastroscopes and flexible endoscopes and find out what the guidelines say about their proper care and cleaning. Love our show? Download our First Case mobile app on: ๐ฒ Apple users: https://zcu.io/gExL Android users: https://zcu.io/j7Kx ...
info_outline
Top 10: Organ Procurement and Transplant
First Case Podcast
Organ procurement and transplant surgeries are among the most unique and emotionally powerful cases the OR team may encounter. And while they may not happen often, or in every facility, when they do occur, preparation, collaboration, and advocacy matter more than ever. In this First Case Articles-On-The-Go, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, walks through the Top 10 things perioperative teams should know about organ procurement and transplant, from understanding the role of visiting procurement teams and honoring donor consent, to managing complex multi-team procedures and the intense...
info_outline
Mistakes in Infection Prevention: What's Hindering Your Infection Prevention Program?
First Case Podcast
What simple, everyday actions are derailing your infection prevention program? Tune in to this discussion with Erica Smith, Surgical Solutions Manager at Henry Schein Medical as we discuss 4 common missteps in Infection Prevention. Weโll discuss how 4, โsimpleโ actions can have significant impact on the health of our patients, and Erica will provide insight into the ways that we can improve. Donโt miss it! Love our show? Download our First Case mobile app on: ๐ฒ Apple users: https://zcu.io/gExL Android users: https://zcu.io/j7Kx Or you can subscribe to the podcast through: ๐ป...
info_outlineHow reliable is the tray you open every day?
In today's episode, we step into inspection and assembly where cleaned instruments are tested, examined, and built into the trays your OR depends on.
This conversation with Kevin Anderson highlights why tray assembly is about far more than checking off a count sheet. From instrument function testing and damaged equipment to borescopes, insulation testing, and missing items, this episode reveals the science behind building a dependable tray.
Listen now and gain a new appreciation for the work that happens before the tray reaches your back table.
#operatingroom #nurse #scrubtech #sterileprocessing