The Dirty Dozen list: What does it say about the world we live in when strawberries, and now blue berries, those gems of nutrition, are included in the list of 12 non-organic fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides according to the Environmental Working Group? Or that 98% of Americans have potentially toxic chemicals detected in their blood.

Last Thursday we got confirmation of the destruction of the submersible Titan and the loss of all onboard. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of those lost to what was a completely avoidable fate. Was this a tragedy of simple mechanical failure or is there more to consider? Indeed, catastrophic implosion at great depth is a disaster, but what is the root cause of the failure?

Consider the job the egg has to do; top of the list is protect the contents from physical damage and maintain the sterile environment within. Hmmm, sound familiar. Structurally the egg is incredibly strong. The reason is the egg's arched shape. Engineers and architects know that an arch is one of the strongest forms around. The smooth curve of an arch can support the weight of buildings and bridges for hundreds of years. Look at a SteriTite container, you’ll see the arched curves throughout, the rounded corners of lid and base, the arch like form of the lid channel...

Once upon a time, Case Medical designed and manufactured custom graphics trays (loaners) for other medical device companies at a time when sterilization modalities were evolving. Users were advocating for a replacement for wrap to avoid tears, OR delays and cancelled cases. No one wanted to wrap anymore. But, was there any sealed container that could adapt to future needs?

It’s been over thirty years since my husband, and I founded Case Medical. My husband loves renovation, but I prefer innovation. We have been challenged over the years with various moves and projects. Doing a home renovation is challenging enough, but imagine taking an existing structure and retrofitting it to become an advanced manufacturing facility, meeting the most current standards...

Today, Case Medical received a gift from the Chemical Footprint Project (CFP) just in time for the New Year. We have participated in CFP's surveys before, but this past year we went beyond even our expectations with a score of 93.67 out of a possible 103 points. We were one of only seven companies to exceed the 80 point threshold.

Life's way too short to waste time on things you'd rather say “no” to. It's like a train on a tight schedule in the blink of an eye it'll pass you by. Case Medical’s thirty years in health care has been pretty remarkable, given economic ups and downs, supply chain challenges, two floods, a pandemic, and sometimes competitive gaslighting. With that said, Case Medical remains resilient, forward looking, and optimistic.