For SPD Week: Reprocess This! announces contest winner, new blogger

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To celebrate SPD week, when the healthcare community recognizes the work of sterile processing professionals, www.reprocessthis.com, an online forum for SPD professionals, has announced the winner of its scholarship to the 2013 Annual Meeting of IAHCSMM (International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management).

“The annual meeting sponsored by IAHCSMM provides both leadership and front-line technicians the opportunity to network with peers and receive updated information so that the ultimate goal of safe patient care can be more readily achieved.”

This week, “Reprocess This!” also announced that a new writer, Renee Turmann, has joined its roster of regular contributors.

The winner of the scholarship, sponsored by Integrated Medical Systems International, Inc. (IMS), is Ken Warnock, Central Sterile Processing Manager at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Mich.

Warnock was among scores of readers who entered a drawing for the scholarship by commenting on reprocessthis.com.

“I am honored and very appreciative of this opportunity to further my knowledge and remain current in the profession,” Warnock said.

Sharon Hadley, BSN, RN, CNOR, CSPDM, IMS VP of Clinical Operations for IMS, said the company sponsored the scholarship because of its commitment to education and best practices in sterile processing.

"As efforts are made both nationally, regionally, and locally to increase awareness of the importance of SPD as a department, and technicians as a group, professional organizations such as IAHCSMM play a critical role in elevating education and perceptions,” Hadley said. “The annual meeting sponsored by IAHCSMM provides both leadership and front-line technicians the opportunity to network with peers and receive updated information so that the ultimate goal of safe patient care can be more readily achieved."

Turmann, who brings with her 14 years’ experience in both SPD and the operating room, is a Clinical Education Manager for IMS, a position that includes teaching the SPD Technician Certification Course for the company.

“I hope to bring you stories that will make you laugh, cry and most of all think!” Turmann said. “Tune in and I promise you will not be disappointed.”

Earlier this year, IMS launched “ReprocessThis!” as a place for SPD professionals to share ideas and information, solve problems together and build a supportive online community.

IMS is a surgical instrument management and consulting company with facilities in Alabama, Florida, Maryland, and Arizona and sales and clinical teams serving more than 2,500 healthcare facilities nationwide. IMS provides instrument and device inventory management; real-time online data and tools to track instruments, tissue and implants; restoration of instruments to manufacturers' performance standards; and on-location clinical personnel to manage sterile processing and interface with the OR. To learn more, visit www.imsready.com.