Custom procedure trays do more than hold instruments—they help create a more consistent, efficient experience across the OR and Sterile Processing Department while supporting physician preference. When a tray is configured around the actual instruments used for a procedure, the result is a system designed for organization, protection, and workflow efficiency rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Years ago, or rather decades ago, Case Medical developed a modular reusable packaging system designed to organize and protect medical devices using off-the-shelf components and standardized trays. That expertise grew from years of developing custom graphics trays on an OEM basis for a wide range of medical device manufacturers.

IUSS grew out of an earlier era of “flash” sterilization, when the priority was keeping procedures moving in urgent situations. It was designed for the unexpected, a dropped instrument, a last-minute need, a case already in motion, not as a routine answer to workflow gaps.

Every minute in the OR matters. When trays are delayed, instruments are missing, or wet sets hold up a case, the impact goes far beyond inconvenience.

Healthcare saves lives but it also leaves a heavy environmental footprint. Globally, the sector is responsible for approximately 4.4%–5.2% of greenhouse gas emissions and about 5% of global CO₂. If healthcare were a country, it would rank as the 13th largest emitter, and in the U.S., it accounts for roughly 8.5% of domestic greenhouse gases.

During Women’s History Month, I often find myself thinking about the women who came before us, the ones who opened doors quietly and persistently, often without much recognition.

As we prepare to attend AAMI next week, we see an important opportunity to strengthen shared understanding of how water treatment decisions influence safety, compliance, and sterilization outcomes in healthcare reprocessing. Case Medical, recognized as a U.S. EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year, approaches chemical safety as an essential part of protecting both staff and patients.

Reprocessing medical devices is a complex, multistep workflow that includes cleaning, inspection and assembly, functional testing, disinfection when required, packaging and labeling, sterilization, transport, and storage.

Healthcare no longer operates in yesterday’s world. The Industrial Revolution has given way to the Digital Revolution, transforming how we diagnose, treat, and operate. Minimally invasive procedures now rely on sophisticated endoscopes and robotic instruments — devices that demand meticulous, step-by-step reprocessing and strict adherence to IFUs to ensure safety, performance, and longevity.

The last few blogs focused on the importance of standardization to decrease waste, remove unnecessary steps, improve turnover, and provide consistent workflow and increase efficiency. Currently, standardization and offsite processing are key buzz words for strategic plans to reduce handling and cut costs in SPD.