Surgical Directions Launches Expert Panel Series to Elevate Sterile Processing

New executive insights position sterile processing as a critical driver of surgical performance, patient safety, and financial outcomes.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:55pm

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Surgical Directions, a healthcare solutions company, has announced the launch of its Expert Panel Series, which aims to address pressing perioperative and anesthesiology challenges. The series is designed to foster peer-to-peer dialogue among hospital executives and operational leaders, surface real-world strategies that improve performance, and advance patient-centered, data-driven decision-making. The latest insights from the panel highlight a shift underway across hospitals nationwide, where sterile processing is no longer seen as a back-of-house function, but rather a strategic lever for access, efficiency, and quality.

Why it matters

As surgical complexity increases, so do the operational demands placed on sterile processing teams. Hospitals are navigating challenges such as increasingly specialized instrumentation, rising surgical volumes, workforce shortages, and lack of standardized performance benchmarks. When sterile processing underperforms, the impact is immediate and measurable, leading to delayed cases, frustrated surgeons, increased infection risk, and avoidable financial loss. Conversely, organizations that integrate sterile processing into perioperative strategy see meaningful improvements in throughput, team alignment, and patient outcomes.

The details

The findings reveal that hospitals that outperform their peers treat sterile processing as a strategic pillar, not a support service. Key practices emerging from leading organizations include integrated governance across OR and sterile processing teams, structured communication models, investment in workforce development, and adoption of tracking and analytics tools. The financial implications are significant, as a single tray reprocessing event can cost $80 or more, with exponentially greater impact when delays disrupt surgical schedules and staffing.

  • Surgical Directions announced the launch of its Expert Panel Series on March 27, 2026.

The players

Surgical Directions

A healthcare solutions company specializing in perioperative and procedural care, sterile processing, anesthesiology, and radiology services.

Barbara McClenathan

Vice President of Nursing at Surgical Directions.

Leslie Basham

CEO of Surgical Directions.

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What they’re saying

“What happens in sterile processing directly determines what's possible in the operating room.”

— Barbara McClenathan, Vice President of Nursing

“SPD can shut down an OR when serious issues occur. In a 15 OR hospital if you were to lose 5 cases a day at $10,000 contribution margin (CM) per case you are losing $750,000 a day.”

— Leslie Basham, CEO

What’s next

Hospital executives are invited to participate in upcoming Expert Panel cohorts, aligned to their areas of interest and organizational priorities. These small-group discussions provide a unique opportunity to engage with peers, exchange insights, and explore practical strategies to improve surgical performance in a rapidly evolving environment.

The takeaway

This initiative by Surgical Directions highlights the growing recognition of sterile processing as a critical strategic function within hospitals, with the potential to drive significant improvements in surgical performance, patient safety, and financial outcomes. By elevating sterile processing to the executive agenda, hospitals can unlock new levels of operational efficiency and quality of care.