How to Start an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Written by: Bill Warren If you’re a physician who’s considering opening their own ambulatory surgery center (ASC), you’re in good company. MCG Health reports that, of the 5,800 ASCs on record in the U.S. in 2023, 95% were at least partially physician owned and 52% were solely physician owned. The incentives for physicians are clear: ASCs offer greater autonomy […] Tweet Like Share
Autoclave Pricing & Industry Averages Written by: Bill Warren Whether you’re replacing outdated or broken units in your sterilizer lineup, expanding your sterile processing department (SPD), or opening up a brand new healthcare facility, there’s a lot to consider when selecting the right autoclaves for the job. While specs like chamber capacity, overall size, and performance are all important, price is more often than […] Tweet Like Share
Cleaning Surgical Instruments: What Healthcare Facilities Need to Know Written by: Bill Warren Ensuring the sterility of surgical instruments and other medical equipment is paramount to patient safety in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), and other healthcare facilities, preventing cross-contamination and reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infection (HAI). But patients aren’t the only ones who benefit. By maintaining a rigorous surgical equipment cleaning process, healthcare facilities can maintain […] Tweet Like Share
Top 10 Surgery Center Architecture Firms Written by: Bill Warren Building a new ambulatory surgery center (ASC) from the ground up is no simple task. From choosing the right location and setting budgets to drawing up building plans and managing construction, there are many moving pieces to keep track of. As a more specialized project, there are certain parameters that must be met to ensure […] Tweet Like Share
Setting up your SPD for Success: 8 Reasons to Own a Backup Autoclave Written by: Consolidated Sterilizer Systems Steam is the most reliable and effective method for sterilizing medical equipment, and as a result, autoclaves are a fixture in almost every ASC’s sterilization setup. But, as is often the case, there are numerous situations in which ASCs find themselves without sufficient sterile processing capacity or a backup plan for when main units are […] Tweet Like Share
Cordyceps Sterilization: How to Kill “The Last of Us” Parasite Written by: Arthur Trapotsis In HBO’s recent adaptation of “The Last of Us,” a popular action-adventure video game, life as we know it is upended by a parasitic fungus that transforms its human hosts into zombies. The culprit? Cordyceps, a real-life genus of fungus which is best known for infecting insects (most famously ants) in much the same manner […] Tweet Like Share
Top 13 Sterile Processing Mistakes in Hospitals Written by: Arthur Trapotsis When it comes to ensuring patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), the Sterile Processing Department (SPD) is among the last lines of defense. It’s this department’s sole responsibility to make sure that reusable instruments and devices are properly decontaminated, sterilized, and ultimately safe to use in future procedures — protecting patients from […] Tweet Like Share
Sterilization vs. High-Level and Low-Level Disinfection [a 3-Point Comparison] Written by: Arthur Trapotsis In a 1939 paper, microbiologist Earle H. Spaulding introduced a system for determining which medical devices and instruments needed disinfection and which ones required sterilization. In it, he proposed that critical instruments would need to be subjected to more stringent disinfection protocols than non-critical patient care items. Today, this framework is fittingly known as Spaulding […] Tweet Like Share
What Is Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilization? Written by: Arthur Trapotsis Hydrogen peroxide has long been used in the healthcare industry, and in the 1970s its vapor form became a low temperature sterilization technique that has only increased in popularity. In this article, we’ll explain how the hydrogen peroxide sterilization process works, including important federal guidelines to be aware of and potential challenges. What Is Low […] Tweet Like Share
7 Best Practices for Hospital Infection Control Written by: Arthur Trapotsis In the fight against infection, healthcare facilities have many preventative measures at their disposal. Together, these best practices form an infection control policy that aims to create safe environments in which patients can heal and recover after surgeries and other procedures. Read on to find out what they are and why each is important. What […] Tweet Like Share
10.21.24 How to Start an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) → If you’re a physician who’s considering opening their own ambulatory surgery center (ASC), you’re in good company. MCG Health reports that, of the 5,800 ASCs on record in the U.S. in 2023, 95% were at least partially physician owned and 52% were solely physician owned. The incentives for physicians are clear: ASCs offer greater autonomy […]
10.15.24 The Different Types of Autoclaves [& How to Choose the Right One] → Steam sterilizers — also known as autoclaves — are an essential piece of equipment in any laboratory, research, or healthcare setting, ensuring sterility for important equipment and instruments. Autoclaves are available in a wide array of designs, each tailored for specific applications, ranging from small-scale laboratory sterilization to large-volume industrial processes. Choosing the right autoclave […]
9.30.24 Horizontal vs. Vertical Autoclaves: 6 Key Differences and Benefits → If you’re looking for a new autoclave for your facility, chances are you’ve considered several options during your search for the right one. When it comes to the question of whether a vertical or horizontal autoclave is the right fit for your lab or medical facility, understanding their key differences is crucial. To help you […]
