If you're curious about how cleaning products work or why cleaning of medical devices is considered the critical first step in the decontamination process, you've come to the right place. We’ve studied the science of cleaning and are pleased to share with you what we learned as a U.S. EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year, in independent laboratory studies, in our micro lab, and with the USGS at their U.S. Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WI. 

Last week we shared our supply issue of getting 4 new rooftop air conditioning units, which were scheduled for arrival on April 6^th then finding out from the manufacturer of the AC units that it would be 42 weeks, at the earliest, for the units we needed. 2023 is another year of unknowns, and healthcare must rally around this one constant: as Covid 19 wanes, there are rising expectations of a return to “normal”. It’s time to start planning for what’s next.

Are you still experiencing supply chain issues? We are. That is why we stocked up on all the necessary supplies and raw materials we need to meet your needs for instrument processing. Nevertheless, what we learned, however, is that you cannot take anything for granted, such as obtaining necessary equipment or even air conditioning units, because they may not be available when you need them.

In a hospital setting, drug resistant strains of bacteria are a growing problem. Staphylococcus is an especially opportunistic pathogen. When immunity is lowered, it can cause all types of infections. Most antibiotics, even the latest and greatest, are not effective against “super bugs”. Some staph infections no longer respond, or become resistant, to common antibiotics.

Spring is here and with it a time of renewal. The time for spring cleaning is at hand, however, it’s become apparent that limiting exposure to various chemicals, toxins and pollutants is also important. We’ve learned much about the detrimental effects various chemicals have on our health. Many cleaning products marketed as “green,” “natural” or “eco-friendly” actually contain chemicals that are known carcinogens, endocrine-disruptors or lung and skin irritants. For instance, awareness around the negative reproductive and development effects of BPA (bisphenol A) in plastics and other unregulated chemicals like phthalates is growing, there is still a lot of work to be done to make sure that our health is protected.

Ask any Sterile Processing technician about the most important first step in the decontamination process, they will always repeat this refrain “Cleaning is the most important first step, because if it’s not clean, it cannot be disinfected or sterilized.” SPD professionals have long recognized how difficult it is to clean used devices and instruments post procedure. Especially challenging are complex endoscopes, with small inner channels, valves, and ports. When left in the open-air bioburden and organic material harden...

A recent online article from CNN Health asks – “How many times can you wear pajamas, jeans, and other clothes without washing them? Experts weigh in…” Turns out that the number of times it’s appropriate to wear clothing items without washing them is based more on folklore or a person’s upbringing than professional advice. The short answer — for pajamas as well as other clothes — technically depends...

T’was the night before surgery... And all through the SPD every set was in blue wrap as far as the eye could see. The peel packs were sorted for surgery with care… In hopes that the surgeon soon would be there.

The Year Was 1924: The American car market was reaching its saturation point, when everyone who wanted and could afford a car had one. To deal with the problem of slowing sales of new cars an executive at General Motors came up with annual model-year design changes. The idea was to convince car owners to buy new cars every year, ...

1992 Trivia, History and Fun Facts: The Top Song was I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston, Johnny Carson was host of the “Tonight Show”, Elle Macpherson was THE fashion icon, and Case Medical is started by Marcia Frieze and her husband Allan. Looking Back; a lot has changed in 30 years, the music we listen to, trends and style in fashion, even the long running “Tonight Show” has had 2 new hosts since 1992. But you know what hasn’t changed in all that time? Case Medical’s commitment to putting patients and people first with products that perform better, last longer and are more ecologically sustainable than the rest. Back in 1992, before recycling was even a thing, and global warming were two words never paired together, Case Medical was making its products from 100%...