All Transmission Control Podcast Episodes
On Pathogens & PPE: Environmental Emergencies in SPD
Temperature swings, humidity spikes, HVAC failures, and water emergencies — oh my! In this episode of “On Pathogens & PPE,” host Jill Holdsworth and co-host Benjamin Galvan are joined by Jonathan Wilder, Chase Elms, and Aaron Preston to explore how environmental emergencies can impact Sterile Processing operations. Together, they tackle real-world scenarios that can quickly disrupt workflows and threaten patient safety. Tune in to learn how risk assessments, strong partnerships with facilities teams, and a clear response plan can help your department stay prepared when the unexpected strikes!
Over the next 12 weeks, Jill and special guests from across the industry will team up to share actionable strategies for fighting pathogens while building stronger partnerships between Sterile Processing and Infection Prevention teams. Whether you’re in SPD, IP, or both—this series is designed to empower you and your team with the knowledge and tools that make a real difference!
New episodes of On Pathogens & PPE will release each Tuesday on all Beyond Clean & Transmission Control channels. A special thanks to our Year 2 sponsor, Healthmark, A Getinge Company, for making this series possible.
#BeyondClean #TransmissionControl #Healthmark #Getinge #OnPathogensAndPPE #SterileProcessing #InfectionPrevention #Podcast
*Disclaimer: The views provided by hosts and guests on this series do not represent any employer, company, or third party, and are solely that of the individuals themselves.
Check 1, Check 2: The Power of Proactive ICARs
What if a visit from your state’s infection prevention team wasn’t something to fear, but your strongest prevention tool? In this episode of Transmission Control, Garrett and Jill sit down with Cheri Fast, State HAI Coordinator, to reframe Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) visits as proactive partnerships instead of punitive checklists. From walking facilities and using real-time photos to strengthen EVS practices, to closing gaps in hand hygiene, respiratory equipment, and policy adherence, Cheri explains how proactive ICARs catch risks before they become outbreaks. She’ll also share how tone, collaboration, and follow-through transform assessments into culture change, and why a “check first” mindset can prevent your next crisis. Whether you’re conducting ICARs or on the receiving end, this conversation shows you how to turn compliance visits into opportunities for real improvement.
Make sure to follow Transmission Control on your favorite podcast app, LinkedIn, and Facebook so you never miss an episode!
#TransmissionControl #InfectionPrevention #Podcast #Season4 #BuiltToHeal #ICARs #Collaboration #Assessment
On Pathogens & PPE: Why Water Quality Matters
Think water is just water? Not in Sterile Processing! In this episode of “On Pathogens & PPE,” host Jill Holdsworth and co-host Aaron Preston are joined by water quality experts Shane Sullivan and Jeffrey Paquet to break down why water quality matters and what the ST108 standard means for your SPD. Together, they explore key concepts like utility water vs. critical water and dig into what RO, DI, and UV systems actually do behind the scenes of instrument reprocessing. Tune in to learn how to recognize early warning signs of water quality issues and why building a strong water management team can help your facility stay ahead of potential problems. Because when it comes to keeping instruments clean and patients safe, water quality matters more than you think!
Over the next 12 weeks, Jill and special guests from across the industry will team up to share actionable strategies for fighting pathogens while building stronger partnerships between Sterile Processing and Infection Prevention teams. Whether you’re in SPD, IP, or both—this series is designed to empower you and your team with the knowledge and tools that make a real difference!
New episodes of On Pathogens & PPE will release each Tuesday on all Beyond Clean & Transmission Control channels. A special thanks to our Year 2 sponsor, Healthmark, A Getinge Company, for making this series possible.
#BeyondClean #TransmissionControl #Healthmark #Getinge #OnPathogensAndPPE #SterileProcessing #InfectionPrevention #Podcast
*Disclaimer: The views provided by hosts and guests on this series do not represent any employer, company, or third party, and are solely that of the individuals themselves
Built to Heal? Infrastructure, Construction, and Water Safety
What if the next infection risk was built into your walls before the first patient ever arrived? In this episode of Transmission Control, we sit down with Alyson Prince-Byrne, an experienced Built Environment Infection Control Specialist, to explore how infrastructure decisions shape patient safety long before occupancy. From water stagnation and dead legs to ventilation design and commissioning gaps, Alyson explains why “meeting code” doesn’t always mean designing for safety. She connects construction missteps to real-world outcomes like Legionella, Pseudomonas, and NTM—infections that often hit the most vulnerable patients hardest. Whether you’re involved in new construction, renovation, or water management, this conversation will have you looking at your facility through a completely new lens.
Make sure to follow Transmission Control on your favorite podcast app, LinkedIn, and Facebook so you never miss an episode!
#TransmissionControl #InfectionPrevention #Podcast #Season4 #BuiltToHeal #Infrastructure #Construction #WaterSafety #Renovation
On Pathogens & PPE: The Challenge of Robotic Instrument Reprocessing
Robotic surgery is a game-changer for patient care — but what does that mean for the teams responsible for safely reprocessing these complex instruments? In this episode of “On Pathogens & PPE,” hosts Jill Holdsworth and Rebecca Alvino are joined by Rebecca Peplau, Vanessa Frank, and Tamara Behm to tackle the most common challenges of robotic instrument reprocessing. From sinks that are too small and complex IFUs to flushing challenges and drying dilemmas, these experts break down what it truly takes to safely reprocess these intricate devices. Tune in to learn which quality checks matter most, why OR point-of-use care is critical, and how collaboration can help your team #FightDirty with confidence.
Over the next 12 weeks, Jill and special guests from across the industry will team up to share actionable strategies for fighting pathogens while building stronger partnerships between Sterile Processing and Infection Prevention teams. Whether you’re in SPD, IP, or both—this series is designed to empower you and your team with the knowledge and tools that make a real difference!
New episodes of On Pathogens & PPE will release each Tuesday on all Beyond Clean & Transmission Control channels. A special thanks to our Year 2 sponsor, Healthmark, A Getinge Company, for making this series possible.
#BeyondClean #TransmissionControl #Healthmark #Getinge #OnPathogensAndPPE #SterileProcessing #InfectionPrevention #Podcast
*Disclaimer: The views provided by hosts and guests on this series do not represent any employer, company, or third party, and are solely that of the individuals themselves.
Built to Heal: The Nitty Gritty Cleaning Committee: The Fine Points of EVS Excellence
Patient safety starts with a clean environment—but how often do gray areas in cleaning responsibilities create confusion between Infection Prevention and Environmental Services? In this Season 4 premiere of Transmission Control, hosts Garrett Hollembeak and Trey Morrow sit down with Mike Epperson, Area Vice President at HHS, to explore one of healthcare’s most critical partnerships: IP and EVS. From IV pumps and bedside commodes to isolation signage and EVS cart setup, they tackle the gaps that emerge when cleaning responsibilities aren’t clearly defined and documented. Mike shares how IPs can round with intention, support proper disinfectant use and dwell times, and use tools like UV markers as education instead of “gotcha” audits. Every patient is impacted by the environment, and this conversation shows why strong IP–EVS collaboration is foundational to keeping it clean, compliant, and survey-ready.
Make sure to follow Transmission Control on your favorite podcast app, LinkedIn, and Facebook so you never miss an episode!
#TransmissionControl #InfectionPrevention #Podcast #Season4 #BuiltToHeal #EVS #IP #Collaboration #EnvironmentalCleaning #Compliance
On Pathogens & PPE: Hand Hygiene in SPD
Hey #CleanFreaks, pop quiz: When’s the last time you washed your hands on the clean side, and should you have? On this episode of “On Pathogens & PPE,” host Jill Holdsworth, co-host Rebecca Alvino, and special guests Ebow Holdbrook-Smith and Ivan Gowe dive into the gray areas of when, where, and how SPD staff should be performing hand hygiene. From identifying the critical transition points where hands need to be cleaned to understanding why your decontam sink is off-limits for handwashing, these IP experts tackle what’s missing in current guidance and how to build better hand hygiene practices into your workflow. So grab your hand sanitizer and tune in—because keeping your hands clean keeps everyone safe!
Over the next 12 weeks, Jill and special guests from across the industry will team up to share actionable strategies for fighting pathogens while building stronger partnerships between Sterile Processing and Infection Prevention teams. Whether you’re in SPD, IP, or both—this series is designed to empower you and your team with the knowledge and tools that make a real difference!
New episodes of On Pathogens & PPE will release each Tuesday on all Beyond Clean & Transmission Control channels. A special thanks to our Year 2 sponsor, Healthmark, A Getinge Company, for making this series possible.
#BeyondClean #TransmissionControl #Healthmark #Getinge #OnPathogensAndPPE #SterileProcessing #InfectionPrevention #Podcast #HandHygiene
*Disclaimer: The views provided by hosts and guests on this series do not represent any employer, company, or third party, and are solely that of the individuals themselves.
On Pathogens & PPE: Transporting Contaminated Instruments
From the OR to SPD, those contaminated instruments are on the move, and so are pathogens! In this Season 2 premiere of “On Pathogens & PPE,” host Jill Holdsworth and co-host Nicholas Day are joined by Rebecca Lauber, Kendall Ashe, Adam Okada, and Crystal Heishman to break down what really happens when soiled instruments leave the OR and make their journey to decontam. From point-of-use pre-treatment and biofilm build-up to OSHA requirements and AAMI standards, this crew digs into what it really means to move biohazards safely through your facility. Because soil transport isn’t just about getting instruments from A to B — it’s about protecting everyone they pass along the way!
Over the next 12 weeks, Jill and special guests from across the industry will team up to share actionable strategies for fighting pathogens while building stronger partnerships between Sterile Processing and Infection Prevention teams. Whether you’re in SPD, IP, or both—this series is designed to empower you and your team with the knowledge and tools that make a real difference!
New episodes of On Pathogens & PPE will release each Tuesday on all Beyond Clean & Transmission Control channels. A special thanks to our Year 2 sponsor, Healthmark, A Getinge Company, for making this series possible.
#TransmissionControl #BeyondClean #Healthmark #Getinge #OnPathogensAndPPE #SterileProcessing #InfectionPrevention #Podcast
*Disclaimer: The views provided by hosts and guests on this series do not represent any employer, company, or third party, and are solely that of the individuals themselves.
Sustaining Wins Beyond the Hospital Walls
How do we turn hard-won victories into lasting change, inside hospitals and across our communities? In the Season 3 finale of the Transmission Control Podcast, Garrett and Jill sit down with Allie Piatkowski, Founder and CEO of Piat Public Health. Allie reflects on the personal leap of launching her own public health consultancy and the wins she’s seeing in a field still navigating post-pandemic realities. Our conversation challenges infection preventionists to zoom out beyond the four walls of acute care and rethink how community health, public health, and IP intersect. From collaboration gaps to change fatigue, Allie offers practical insight on sustaining momentum, avoiding burnout, and keeping prevention work visible, even when success means nothing happens at all. This finale is both a celebration and a call to action: victories matter, but sustainment is what truly transforms systems!
Make sure to follow Transmission Control on your favorite podcast app, LinkedIn, and Facebook so you never miss an episode!
#TransmissionControl #InfectionPrevention #Podcast #Season3 #TheVictoryLap #PublicHealth #CommunityHealth #Collaboration #Sustainability