By Julie E. Williamson
Continuing education and the commitment to staying abreast of the latest industry standards and best practices is the foundation of quality, safety and positive outcomes in the sterile processing department (SPD) and other areas where instruments and equipment are processed or otherwise managed.
Those who attend the 2021 IAHCSMM Annual Conference & Expo this October in Columbus, Ohio, will learn from some of the industry’s most renowned and respected experts in the field. Attendees will glean valuable information they can take back to their departments to drive better outcomes for their health care customers and patients who rely on clean, sterile and well-functioning instruments.
Because of the pandemic and the uncertainties that existed over the past year-plus, IAHCSMM moved its conference and expo from May to October and adopted an innovative scheduling approach with two attendance options (Conference Option A takes place Oct. 9-11; Conference Option B immediately follows Oct. 12-14). The educational sessions and speakers for Option A will repeat for Option B, aside from each conference option having its own keynote speaker (Option A’s keynote is Steve Pemberton, an inspiring business and human resources leaders who overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to become a man of resilience, determination and vision; Option B’s keynote is Jon Dorenbos, an NFL veteran who retired following open heart surgery and is now a sleight-of-hand magician who showcased his talent on America’s Got Talent, Ellen and The Today Show, and marries his magic and incredible life story to motivate and inspire audiences). Regardless of the option attendees choose, they’ll receive outstanding education and networking opportunities at every turn to advance their knowledge and skills sets, share their experiences and best practices, and tap new-and-improved ways to address their health care customers’ and patients’ needs.
The two-day expo will be held on the last day of conference Option A and the first day of conference Option B (Oct. 11-12).
Option A Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 9
10:30-11 a.m. – Opening Remarks
11 a.m.-12 p.m. – Opening Keynote (Steve Pemberton)
1:30-2 p.m. – Educational Session (Advocacy Update)
2:15-3:15 p.m. – Educational Session (Update on Sterile Processing Best Practices)
3:30-4 p.m. – Educational Session (Water Safety & Quality During Medical Device Reprocessing)
4:15-4:45 p.m. – Educational Session (Instrument Care & Handling: How to Care for Your Microsurgical Instruments in 5 Easy Steps)
5-6 p.m. – Educational Session (Is It Clean? Building a Quality & Audit Program Around Critical Elements Before Packaging)
7 p.m. – Opening Reception for Attendees
Sunday, Oct. 10
7:30-8 a.m. – Educational Session (Infection Prevention 101)
8:15-8:45 a.m. – Educational Session (How to Evaluate Stains After Steam Sterilization)
9-10 a.m. – Educational Session (Are You Ready for the New AAMI ST91 for Endoscope Reprocessing?)
10:15-11:15 a.m. – Educational Session (Bringing Quality & Innnovation to Sterile Processing)
11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. – Educational Session (How to Tackle Steam Sterilization Failures)
1:30-2:30 p.m. – Educational Session (Sterile Processing Unscripted)
2:45-3:45 p.m. – Educational Session (Lessons from the Field: Preparing for the Next Pandemic)
4-5 p.m. – Educational Session (Fact or Facebook Fiction?)
5:15-5:45 p.m. – Educational Session (What You Should Know About the Physical Ergonomic Challenges Facing Sterile Processing Professionals)
Monday, Oct. 11
7:30-8 a.m. – Educational Session (Your Future Is in Your Hands: Building a Career Ladder in Sterile Processing)
8:15-8:45 p.m. – Educational Session (A Joint Commission Survey: What You Need to Know in Regard to High-Level Disinfection)
9-10 a.m. – Educational Session (Infection Control for the COVID-19 Era and Beyond)
10:15-11:15 a.m. – Educational Session (When Everything Goes Wrong: A Patient’s Perspective)
11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. – Educational Session (Understanding Enzymes and How to Get the Most out of Enzymatic Detergents)
1:30-2 p.m. – Educational Session (A Practical Guide for Disinfectants in SPD)
2:15-2:45 p.m. – Educational Session (Putting First Things First: What’s Your Priority?)
2-6:30 p.m. – Expo Open
Option B Schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 12
10:30-11 a.m. – Opening Remarks
11 a.m.-12 p.m – Opening Keynote (Jon Dorenbos)
1:30-2 p.m – Educational Session (Instrument Care & Handling: How to Care for Your Microsurgical Instruments in 5 Easy Steps)
2:15-3:15 p.m. – Educational Session (Advocacy Update)
2-6 p.m. – Expo Open
6:30 p.m. – Evening Reception
Wednesday, Oct. 13
7:30-8 a.m. – Educational Session (Water Safety & Quality During Medical Device Reprocessing)
8:15-8:45 a.m. – Educational Session (Infection Prevention 101)
9-10 a.m. – Educational Session (Update on Sterile Processing Best Practices)
10:15-11:15 a.m. – Educational Session (Is It Clean? Building a Quality & Audit Program Around Critical Elements Before Packaging)
11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. – Educational Session (How to Evaluate Stains After Steam Sterilization)
1:30-2:30 p.m. – Educational Session (Are You Ready for the New AAMI ST91 for Endoscope Reprocessing)
2:45-3:45 p.m. – Educational Session (Bringing Quality & Innovation to SP)
4-5 p.m. – Educational Session (Sterile Processing Unscripted)
5:15-5:45 p.m. – Educational Session (What You Should Know About the Physical Ergonomic Challenges Facing Sterile Processing Professionals)
Thursday, Oct. 14
7:30-8 a.m. – Educational Session (Understanding Enzymes and How to Get the Most out of Enzymatic Detergents)
8:15-8:45 a.m. – Educational Session (A Practical Guide to Disinfectants in SPD)
9-10 a.m. – Educational Session (Lessons from the Field: Preparing for the Next Pandemic)
10:15-10:45 a.m. – Educational Session (A Joint Commission Survey: What You Need to Know in Regard to High-Level Disinfection)
11 a.m.-12 p.m. – Educational Session (When Everything Goes Wrong: The Patient’s Perspective)
1:30-2:30 p.m. – Educational Session (Infection Control for the COVID-19 Era and Beyond)
2:45-3:15 p.m. – Educational Session (The Future Is in Your Hands: Building a Career Ladder in Sterile Processing)
3:30-4:30 p.m. – Educational Session (Fact or Facebook Fiction)
4:45-5:45 p.m. – Educational Session (How to Tackle Steam Sterilization Failures)
6-6:30 p.m. – Educational Session (Putting First Things First: What’s Your Priority?)
7 p.m. – Closing Reception
Julie E. Williamson, serves as IAHCSMM’s Senior Editor and Director of Communications.
