THE 2015 IAHCSMM ANNUALConference & Expo may have come to a close weeks ago, but it’s still generating buzz

among all who attended. A total of 1,116 attendees from 49 states and 21 countries traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, delivering a record-breaking attendance and a truly international presence to IAHCSMM’s 50th Anniversary Conference.

Predominant sunshine and balmy temps helped make the monumental event even more golden; however, it was the top-tier educational sessions, renowned speakers, sprawling Expo, and lively social functions that kept attendees off the sandy beaches and intently focused on the Broward County Convention Center, which housed the Conference & Expo.

Pre-conference events are always a big attendee draw, and that was certainly the

case this year. While many early arrivers took advantage of Florida’s beauty and ecological diversity by participating in off-site excursions, hundreds more rolled up their sleeves and got a head start on learning with pre-conference hands-on labs and workshops. In addition, more than 200 attendees participated in the Educators Forum, with sessions aimed at enhancing and broadening current and prospective CS educators’ teaching skills.

From Sunday, May 3, to Wednesday, May 6, attendees took advantage of a broad spectrum of knowledge-building offerings, from Early Bird Round Table Discussions to the more than 20 timely educational sessions tailored to CS managers and technicians of all backgrounds and tenures. Some of the many session topics offered included: flexible endoscope contamination and related outbreaks; FDA medical device validation, labeling and guidance; low-

temperature sterilization; AAMI updates; managing unexpected events in the CS department; current issues and new technologies in high-level disinfection and sterilization; the science of steam sterilization; managing difficult-to-clean medical devices; CS tools of the trade; Lean/Six Sigma in CS; using the force to pass certification legislation; ten reprocessing issues and solutions; preparing acute and ambulatory surgery CS professionals for infection prevention audits; UDI impacts for healthcare providers; a science-based approach to product quality assurance testing; prion decontamination challenges; and The Joint Commission and CS.

Officially kicking off the Conference was keynote speaker Paul Maurer, MD, chief of neurosurgery at Unity Hospital, and surgical director of the hospital’s Spine Center. He shared how he got his start in healthcare as a 17-year-old CS

2015 IAHCSMM Annual Conference & Expo Wrap-Up

2015 iAhCsmm AnnuAl ConfeRenCe & exPo wRAP-uP

technician who was “told what to do,” but not informed of the reasons why. Now, as a surgeon who’s performed more than 520 major neurosurgical procedures at Unity Hospital alone – all without one patient being readmitted for infection – he recognizes the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork and collaboration in the quest for positive patient outcomes. “We mustn’t forget that every little thing we do has a big impact,” he said, using catastrophic airline incidents as an analogy. “Like the airlines, if something goes wrong, it’s going to be really, really bad. One lapse in judgment can have life-changing consequences.” Between the care and due-diligence taken by CS staff and his own surgical team who understands how bacteria proliferate, he said he’s confident that the instruments are safe, sterile and ready for use when he steps up to the table. “Everyone in the chain can win or lose the game,” he stressed. “Knowledge [of how infections arise] truly provides the impetus and interest, and yields the best result.”

Closing keynote speaker Diane Sieg, former Emergency Department (ED) nurse-turned speaker, author, coach, and yoga instructor, shared rescue strategies to help overworked and overwhelmed attendees stop living life like an emergency. Through the use of meditation and mindfulness, she offered solutions to help attendees reclaim a healthy balance in their personal and professional lives. “Intention requires mindfulness,” she said, adding that being

mindful allows us to be open to new things, and gives us space to respond in the moment, rather than just react. Mindfulness is undoubtedly critical for all healthcare workers – two-thirds of whom are suffering from mental and physical exhaustion. CS professionals who are on the frontline of patient safety, but not the frontline of patient care, may be particularly susceptible to workplace “burnout” because their stresses may often go unnoticed, she explained. Emergency living is potentially life-threatening for the individual. Sieg described how one patient entered the ED with heart attack symptoms, but left the hospital before receiving the official diagnosis. “She literally didn’t have time for her own heart attack,” Sieg stressed. Following a brief, but powerful meditative activity, Sieg reminded attendees that human beings are unable to give what they don’t have. Being mindful allows us to focus fully on the task at hand, which reduces mistakes, and allows us to better serve others and ourselves, she noted.

Educational opportunities also abounded in the Expo, with more than 120 vendors displaying exhibits across the more than 100,000-square-foot venue. Information-seeking attendees laced up their sneakers to canvass the expansive space and explore the latest products, equipment and services. They also boarded on-premise repair and educational vehicles, and participated in hands-on education provided on the exhibit floor by many vendors.

Education continued in the corridors upstairs, too, with 70 thought-provoking educational posters on display. These poster presentations provided an at-a-glance look at well-researched studies and outcomes-based practices covering a range of CS-related subject matter.

Networking was at its finest during the numerous vendor-sponsored luncheons and social events, and provided an opportunity for attendees to refuel with delicious food and refreshments after a long day of learning, mix and mingle with fellow attendees and industry experts, and unwind in a casual, spirited setting.

The following pages will offer a glimpse of the 2015 IAHCSMM Annual Conference & Expo, and highlight how truly “golden” IAHCSMM’s 50th Annual Conference & Expo was. Many thanks to all attendees, speakers and vendors who traveled from near and far to attain and deliver information to drive process improvements and patient safety, and make this Conference & Expo a most memorable event.

We look forward to welcoming you to another successful conference in San Antonio, Texas, for the 2016 IAHCSMM Annual Conference and Expo!

Add It Up1,116

attendees21

Countries Represented

49u.s. states

Represented

124Exhibiting Vendors

1Exceptional Conference

72 Communiqué July / august 2015

SpecIAl thAnkS to oUr conference SponSorS

2015 iAhCsmm AnnuAl ConfeRenCe & exPo wRAP-uP

healthmarkINDUSTRIES CO.

health care products

800-521-6224www.hmark.com

2015 AwARd winneRs

ConfidenCe buildeR AwARd - Christiana Care Health system, sterile Processing Department, Newark, Del.Pictured l to R – sharon greene-golden; Debbie Byrd for Christiana Care Health system; Jamie Handler of Halyard Health

AwARd of honoR - Richard schule, stERIs Corp.Pictured l to R: Richard schule, sharon greene-golden

Cs suPeRvisoR/mAnAgeR of the yeAR AwARd - Debbie guerrero, Manager sPD, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, Pomona, Cal.Pictured l to R: Bob Marrs for aesculap; David Jagrosse; Debbie guerrero; sharon greene-golden

2015 iAhCsmm AnnuAl ConfeRenCe & exPo wRAP-uP

deContAminAtoR of the yeAR - Nancy Pengra, sPD supervisor, Mayo Clinic Health system, la Crosse, Wis.Winner not present. Pictured l to R: steve Basile of Healthmark Industries; David Jagrosse; sharon greene-golden; Ralph Basile; and stephen Kovach of Healthmark Industries

lARge ChAPteR of the yeAR - Minnesota Healthcare Central service Members association

teChniCiAn AChievement AwARd - shenequa Moton, Central Processing team leader, Bon secours saint Francis, greenville, s.C.Pictured l to R: David Jagrosse; sharon greene-golden; shenequoa Moton; Richard schule of stERIs Corp.

humAnitARiAn AwARd - Joseph Charleman, Educator, Berkeley College, Clifton, N.J.Pictured l to R: David Jagrosse, Joseph Charleman, sharon greene-golden

medium ChAPteR of the yeAR - Western Wisconsin Chapter of IaHCsMM

smAll ChAPteR of the yeAR - Keystone state association of sterile Processing Professionals

2015 iAhCsmm AnnuAl ConfeRenCe & exPo wRAP-uP

2015 iAhCsmm AnnuAl ConfeRenCe & exPo wRAP-uP