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No ‘golden oldie,’ new IAHCSMM approaches future with renewed vigor

For some, that may mean consistency. For others, it might signify tradition. Or it could simply mean the association has been so satisfied with the executive director’s efforts and achievements that change makes no sense at all.

Whatever the case, the small, upstart National Association of Hospital Central Service, with fewer members than some local and regional chapters today from the country’s two largest cities at the time, needed front office and back office help. Four years after its inception, the NAHCSP turned to a young woman named Betty Hanna to create and develop some business structure to the dream of fewer than 100 central service professionals dedicated to the association’s success.

In 1962, NAHCSP chose Hanna to lead them to the next level of development for an association largely unrecognized in the rest of the healthcare community, as were its members and the professionals it was working to represent.

Since that time, NAHCSP expanded to become the International Association of Hospital Central Service Managers and then progressed further to what it is known as today, the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management. Recently, it merged with its now former cross-town competitor the American Society of Healthcare Central Service Professionals, capping the first decade of the 21st century with a renewed mission of developing quality leaders and technicians within CS and promoting the profession throughout the world.

To its members IAHCSMM has served as a refuge from the working world to assemble, discuss, laugh, learn and network with peers for five decades.

True to form, in a brief discussion with Healthcare Purchasing News, Hanna tried to deflect all of the credit for IAHCSMM’s progress to the organization’s board of directors and members who "make it happen." Thankfully, Hanna was able to be convinced to set aside her classic self-deprecating personal philosophy and share some of her experiences and insights about the worthwhile contributions that she and the association she has represented as IACHSMM celebrates its golden anniversary this year.

Employees were untrained. The department was considered ‘bottom of the ladder’ and typically hired the halt, lame and the blind. The role of the Central Service department in hospital structure was not yet a consideration. There were no rules and regulations, and in many hospitals, there were no guidelines for proper processing techniques. It became quite clear that this was a discipline that desperately needed support.

I recall how the Chicago Board of Directors drove in groups to attend meetings. They were responsible for their own expenses, including air travel. But they were a dedicated group that paid their own way because they recognized the need for a professional association for the CS discipline. Had it not been for their dedication and perseverance, I am not sure we would be where we are today.

Several key things come to mind: Purdue University accepting IAHCSMM’s educational materials; our first convention/annual meeting; and our Premium Partnerships, which are an indication of the respect and trust vendors have with IAHCSMM.

In terms of the profession, I would tell them that the CS discipline is one that is incredibly vital to the delivery of quality patient care, and unlike in the past, it’s a profession that is finally becoming recognized and valued for its many contributions. The sterile processing profession is a great start to a rewarding healthcare career. More than 90 percent of hospitals’ patient care areas are directly supported by CS. A career in CS allows employees to understand the behind-the-scenes work that goes into supporting quality patient care.

Through IAHCSMM, these hard-working individuals have access to the widest array of educational and professional advancement tools, which allows them to become certified and respected experts in the field. We help provide them a ladder to a professional career. All the steps to ascertain management or supervisory status is available, from entry-level on up. Equally important, CS professionals also have the unsurpassed support of our experts and that of their peers to help keep them apprised of the latest industry standards and quality practices. Having this kind of access facilitates networking and creates a unique forum for information exchange, which drives departmental efficiencies, excellence and quality. I’d say the time has never been better to be part of Central Service – and I believe it’s only going to get better.

A well-run and well-developed professional association listens to its members, acts on their behalf and gives them much-needed support – along with the various tools they need to succeed. An effective association is also one with expert leadership at the helm and passionate ambassadors representing the group at key meetings with allied groups (in regard to the sterile processing profession that includes groups such as AAMI, AORN, APIC, AST, SGNA, among others.) A successful association is also one with a sound mission, vision and educational-based business plan to support various projects, educational programs and the ability to grow progressively while maintaining good financial stewardship.

IAHCSMM has never taken its eye off of what is most important: The members. Our members truly are the heart of this association, and it shows. From the very beginning, we have been absolutely honest with our members, the public and allied groups in all respects of our business, including our financials. Publishing financial information creates a level of transparency and trust, and indicates openness in regard to IAHCSMM’s inner workings.

Exceptional member support is also at IAHCSMM’s core. When someone calls headquarters, they can be confident that there will be a live person on the other end to address their needs, point them in the right direction and help them every step of the way. We have more than 10,000 members today from all over the world and they rely on IAHCSMM to keep them apprised of the latest industry standards and developments, while also helping them build a stronger presence in their departments, within their local, state and regional chapters, and with the other disciplines within the hospital. IAHCSMM has really helped put the CS discipline on the map – not only within healthcare organizations and other professional groups, but also on the legislative front. CS is no longer viewed as just a job; it’s a profession.

Thanks to the recent merger with ASHCSP, we’ve already overcome one of the greatest challenges, which is to have one organization serving as a clear voice for the sterile processing profession and to create a level playing field for all to function under one set of rules. This will go a long way toward eliminating unnecessary confusion and conflicting messages that can come from the presence of multiple professional groups.

Aside from that, IAHCSMM is also pleased that the CS profession is finally earning some much-deserved recognition, both in and out of the healthcare setting. More productive interdisciplinary relationships, particularly with those in the operating room and infection control, are being developed and nurtured, and CS employees are now being acknowledged as true experts in their field. We’ve seen state-mandated certification efforts gain momentum and legislators are becoming increasingly aware of the key role CS professionals play in the delivery of quality patient care.

Of course, we’d like to see the day when every CS professional is certified – ideally, under one national certification – and takes pride in their profession by committing to ongoing education and chapter involvement. IAHCSMM offers the most highly regarded professional advancement resources and is consistently developing new tools to help CS professionals succeed. Having Certified Registered Central Service Technicians is very important for driving quality.

At the same time, IAHCSMM understands that CS professionals may also want to build on their expertise even further, which is why we have developed other certifications, such as the Certified Instrument Specialist designation for those who already hold the CRCST designation. Knowledge is an ongoing process and so is IAHCSMM’s dedication to advancing the profession and offering the very best support to CS technicians, supervisors, managers, and directors.

I can honestly say that it’s not my personal contributions that matter as much as the trust and devotion given by our loyal members and contributors over the years. The success of this association has definitely been a team effort. Without their support and dedication I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do my job all these years.

IAHCSMM is an association that has been able to successfully bring the CS department and profession into its own, so to speak. Patient safety has accelerated due to the educational offerings of our devoted group. When preparing materials, only those preparations considered perfectly in step with the times would be included in published textbooks. It was and is a group endeavor with all the appropriate checks and balances.

I needed to work and I enjoyed the work, and I just so happened to love the people I was working with. I felt more that way with each passing year. I am so grateful to be associated with IAHCSMM.

Having a unified association will certainly benefit the CS profession. Resources formerly spent supporting two separate organizations will now be dedicated to one stronger entity. Members will find that IAHCSMM will become an even stronger voice for the discipline and will do an even better job of serving the overall healthcare community through more robust educational resources and conferences and enhanced lobbying efforts.

Moving forward, we will continue developing this organization in every way possible.