Part 1: AI in Sterile Processing: Foundations & Practical Reality

Unlocking CensisAI²: The Metrics That Matter for Smarter SPD Decisions

Sterile processing departments are swimming in data, from workflow automation and supply data to patient outcome and quality metrics. But the real challenge is not collecting more information; it is knowing which metrics actually improve SPD performance, technician education, OR readiness and patient safety. For Censis, a leader in surgical asset management, the focus is on helping SPD teams turn that data into clearer instrument tracking, stronger workflow efficiency and better compliance. Censis estimates that an average OR minute costs about $60, making delayed cases a clear example of how operational data can quickly become a financial issue. When every scan, delay and quality event generates another data point, how can SPD teams tell which metrics are worth acting on before inefficiencies turn into OR delays, rework or patient safety risks? Welcome to ConCensis. In the latest episode, host Daniel Litwin, the Voice of B2B at MarketScale, welcomes Beth Perry, Business Intelligence & Analytics Engineer at Censis Technologies, for a presentation on how SPD teams can turn large volumes of operational data into practical decisions that improve productivity, quality, technician education and instrument availability. The discussion explores how CensisAI² helps teams identify the right metrics, understand what those metrics reveal and connect insights to measurable operational action. What you’ll learn… * Data only matters when it drives action. Perry explains that meaningful metrics should provide clear insight and influence decisions, helping SPD teams move from passive reporting to practical improvement. * Productivity metrics should be tied to operational drivers. The discussion highlights items processed, count sheet quantity, average seconds per instrument assembled and time spent on core SPD workflows as ways to understand and improve throughput. * Quality data can guide smarter technician education. Perry shows how event count, error rate, case delay minutes, responsible party count and average repertoire size can help managers decide whether an issue calls for individual coaching, team-wide training or proactive skill development. Beth Perry brings more than a decade of experience in business intelligence, analytics, reporting and data systems, with a long tenure at Censis Technologies. In her current role as Engineer of Business Intelligence & Analytics, she focuses on translating business needs into effective data solutions that support clearer reporting and better decision-making. Her career also includes experience in systems engineering, enterprise data analysis, technical services, logistics, sales administration and technology adoption.

Understanding Joint Commission 360 Standards: What They Mean for SPD Teams (Part 2)

Healthcare teams today are feeling the pressure to move beyond last-minute compliance and instead build processes that work consistently every day. That shift is especially clear in sterile processing departments (SPDs), where the Joint Commission 360 model is redefining what “survey readiness” really means. With patient safety directly tied to instrument quality—and studies consistently linking process variability to surgical risk—the stakes for getting SPD workflows right have never been higher. So what does it actually look like for SPD teams to move from reactive compliance to a culture of continuous readiness—and can they do it without burning out their staff? That’s the question at the heart of this episode of ConCensis. Host Daniel Litwin sits down with Dr. Ivan Salgo, Chief Medical Officer at Censis and ASP, and Sabrina M. Ford, Market Manager of Central Sterilization at CommonSpirit. Together, they unpack how Joint Commission 360 standards are transforming SPD workflows, leadership expectations, and the role of technology in sustaining compliance—building on key themes introduced in the first part of the conversation. Top insights from the talk… * From reactive to proactive compliance: Teams must embed standards into daily workflows—“stay ready so you don’t have to get ready”—eliminating last-minute audit stress. * Data and visibility drive accountability: Instrument tracking systems, KPI dashboards, and real-time documentation are essential for identifying gaps and sustaining performance. * Culture and leadership alignment are critical: True transformation requires engagement from frontline staff to the C-suite, shifting SPD into a strategic clinical partner role. Dr. Ivan Salgo is a physician-executive and Chief Medical Officer at Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP)/Fortive, with extensive leadership experience across medical devices, life sciences, and healthcare technology, spanning R&D, clinical affairs, regulatory strategy, and commercialization. He has led breakthrough innovations—from NIH-funded research to global market leadership—including key contributions to Philips Live 3DTEE and significant growth in cardiology ultrasound, and is recognized for shaping strategy and accelerating adoption of high-impact clinical technologies. Sabrina M. Ford is the Market Manager of Central Sterilization at CommonSpirit Health, where she leads SPD strategy and operations across multiple facilities. Known for her focus on Lean principles, staff competency development, and operational discipline, Ford has been instrumental in advancing continuous readiness models within large health systems. In her role, she also emphasizes team accountability, data visibility, and standardized workflows to support consistent survey readiness and performance improvement.

Understanding Joint Commission 360 Standards: What They Mean for SPD Teams (Part 1)

For a long time, compliance in healthcare was tied to the survey cycle. Now, that model is shifting. With the introduction of Joint Commission 360, organizations are being asked to demonstrate continuous performance—not just preparedness. As patient safety comes under increasing scrutiny, The Joint Commission is moving toward an approach built on real-time data, traceability, and consistency. The stakes are high: inconsistent sterile processing practices are still linked to surgical site infections, making SPD performance a critical piece of the patient safety puzzle. If compliance is no longer about preparing for a moment but proving performance over time, how should SPD teams approach their daily workflows differently? Welcome to ConCensis. In the latest episode, host Daniel Litwin sits down with Dr. Ivan Salgo, Chief Medical Officer at Censis and ASP, and Sabrina M. Ford, Market Manager of Central Sterilization at CommonSpirit, to unpack the real-world impact of Joint Commission 360 standards. Together, they explore how this updated accreditation model moves beyond checklist compliance and into a culture of continuous readiness, data-driven decision-making, and frontline accountability. What you’ll learn… * How to transition from last-minute survey prep to a continuous, always-ready compliance mindset powered by real-time data. * How AAMI standards and Lean principles work together to reduce variability and create consistent, high-performing SPD workflows. * Why strong documentation, traceability, and reproducible processes are now essential for proving performance and ensuring patient safety. Dr. Ivan Salgo serves as the Chief Medical Officer and Vice President at Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), with extensive leadership experience across the medical device and life sciences industries. He has led innovation, clinical strategy, and commercialization efforts at organizations like Philips and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, including driving market-leading cardiology technologies and securing major NIH-funded research initiatives. Sabrina M. Ford serves as the Market Manager of Central Sterilization at CommonSpirit, where she leads SPD teams through complex compliance environments, audits, and operational challenges. With extensive hands-on leadership experience, she brings practical insight into how standards translate into day-to-day workflows and team culture. She is known for her experience guiding teams through real-world survey readiness and operational demands.

Part 2: AI In Sterile Processing: What’s Next & Where This Is Going

Artificial intelligence used to live in strategy decks and conference keynotes—but now it’s showing up in a very different place: right on the assembly tables where SPD technicians build trays for the next case. And it’s arriving at a time when the pressure on sterile processing has never been higher. As surgical volumes climb and staffing shortages continue to strain hospital teams, SPDs are being asked to move faster while making zero mistakes. Even a single missing instrument can mean tray rework, case delays, and tension between departments. That’s why AI-powered computer vision is gaining attention: not as a futuristic replacement for technicians, but as a second set of eyes built directly into the workflow. Can AI meaningfully reduce tray errors and compliance risk in SPDs—without disrupting workflows or replacing the human expertise at the center of sterile processing? Welcome to ConCensis. Continuing from a previous episode in this two-part conversation, host Daniel Litwin rejoins Censis Chief Technology Officer Harshil Goradia and Senior Director of Product Development Seamus Johnson to explore the future of AI in sterile processing. The episode centers on Censis Technologies’ AI-powered sterile processing solution, Assembly Copilot: Final Check, a computer vision tool that detects missing chemical integrators before trays leave the assembly area. Together, the group discusses real-world results from early adopters, how the tool integrates seamlessly into existing workflows, and what the next three to five years of AI innovation in SPDs could look like. What you’ll learn… * How Final Check drove missing integrator occurrences down to zero by flagging omissions in real time—stopping trays before they left assembly and required rework or delayed a case. * Why embedded computer vision and real-time alerts strengthen compliance without adding tool fatigue, integrating directly into technician workflows instead of forcing teams to adopt separate systems or change standard work processes. * What responsible AI adoption looks like in sterile processing, including human-in-the-loop oversight, transparent governance practices, and a phased approach that builds trust with technicians and hospital leadership. Harshil Goradia serves as the Chief Technology Officer and VP of IT at Censis Technologies, where he leads global engineering, AI, innovation, and digital transformation initiatives across commercial and government healthcare businesses. He has a proven track record of launching revenue-generating AI products, building AI-native data platforms, modernizing cloud and IT infrastructure, and driving measurable growth, efficiency gains, and cybersecurity excellence within large enterprise environments, including Fortive and Fortune 100 organizations. Previously, he led AI Centers of Excellence and large-scale cloud, ERP, and digital transformation programs across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, delivering multi-million-dollar impact and scaling high-performing global technology teams. Seamus Johnson is a Senior Software Developer at Censis Technologies with more than two decades of experience building and scaling healthcare technology solutions. He specializes in software architecture, cloud systems, database design, cybersecurity, and full-stack development using technologies such as C#, Angular, and TypeScript. With a background in physics from Tennessee Technological University and prior experience at Northrop Grumman, Johnson brings deep technical expertise and long-standing industry experience to the development of secure, high-performance applications for sterile processing and hospital environments.

Part 1: AI in Sterile Processing: Foundations & Practical Reality

Sterile processing departments are dealing with persistent operational pressures. Surgical case volumes are rising, instruments are more complex, and staffing shortages remain across many health systems. Accuracy and documentation requirements continue to tighten, leaving little room for error. In busy hospitals, sterile processing teams may handle 10,000 to 30,000 surgical instruments per day, with performance tightly linked to patient risk given the persistent burden of surgical site infections in inpatient care. These conditions are shaping how hospitals evaluate AI in sterile processing as a practical way to support frontline teams without adding disruption or risk. As health systems reassess where technology can provide real operational support, what does effective adoption look like inside day-to-day SPD workflows? In Part 1 of this two-part ConCensis podcast series by Censis Technologies, host Daniel Litwin sits down with Chief Technology Officer Harshil Goradia and Senior Director of Product Development Seamus Johnson for a grounded, practical discussion on how AI is being applied in sterile processing today. The conversation centers on where AI delivers measurable value in SPD workflows, why some use cases succeed while others fall short, and how technology can reinforce technician performance without disrupting established processes. Key points : * AI is most valuable where traditional software breaks down: Rule-based tools struggle with visual, variable, real-world conditions such as lighting, positioning, and tray variability. AI in sterile processing, particularly computer vision, can interpret this complexity without hard-coding every possible scenario. * Consistency is the core challenge across SPD workflows: Decontamination, assembly, and sterilization remain the highest-risk steps. Volume growth, case complexity, and staffing strain increase the likelihood of errors, making consistency a primary focus for AI in sterile processing initiatives. * Final check use cases can have an outsized impact: In customer environments referenced in the episode, missing integrators dropped from dozens per month to zero after implementation. These results show how targeted AI in sterile processing applications can improve accuracy while strengthening documentation and accountability. Harshil Goradia is a technology executive specializing in AI, SaaS, and large-scale digital transformation across healthcare and enterprise software. As CTO and VP of IT at Censis Technologies, he leads global engineering and AI initiatives that drive product innovation, operational efficiency, and revenue growth. His career spans senior leadership roles at Fortive, Arrow Electronics, and Oracle, delivering high-impact technology platforms and scalable modernization programs. Seamus Johnson is a senior software developer with more than two decades of experience building technology solutions for the healthcare industry. At Censis Technologies, he leads application development across software architecture, cloud systems, databases, and security, with a focus on supporting hospital and sterile processing workflows. His background includes enterprise software development roles at Censis and Northrop Grumman, grounded in a technical foundation in physics and agile engineering practices.