Sterile Processing Week Is Oct. 12–18: Honor the Team’s Vital Contributions

For decades, the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association has formally designated the second Sunday of October through the following Saturday as Sterile Processing Week. During this week of honor, we highlight how SP professionals support patient care, infection prevention, and positive outcomes and seek to celebrate and elevate the profession in meaningful ways—while encouraging every facility, C-suite, and SP leader to do the same. The 2025 SP Week theme is “Service with a Purpose,” a nod to how every technician, supervisor, manager, and educator uses their knowledge and specialized skills to serve and support others.

Every SPD has its stars, and SP Week provides a golden opportunity to help them shine brighter. A practical approach is for managers to post photos of employees across all shifts and an accompanying write-up that highlights some or all of the following: 

• Certifications held by the employee
• Time employed at the facility or total years of experience
• The employee’s favorite role within the department
• Why the employee enjoys working in the profession
• Examples of a shining moment (success story, achievement, etc.) over the past year
• The employee’s future professional goals
• Something personal about each team member (hobbies, favorite off-the-clock activities)

These details can be compiled as a “team document” that can be shared with the healthcare organization’s Human Resources department and, ideally, published in an employee newsletter or other community site. Doing so helps put a face and name on the department's inner workings, which can improve employee morale and contribute to improved understanding and appreciation from the departments the SPD serves.  

SP Week is an excellent time for managers to meet with employees to personally express how they have benefited the department, identify career growth opportunities that align with their strengths, or discuss professional aspirations (such as additional certifications, supervisory pursuits, and more) and how best to achieve them. Note: While leaders and employees generally have annual review discussions that address professional goals, growth potential, and so on, Sterile Processing Week provides a terrific opportunity to revisit previously set goals or identify new ways to help support employees.

Inviting senior-level leaders to SP Week open houses, tours, and educational events is among the most effective ways to drive recognition and understanding about the discipline and make them aware of the SPD’s contributions, successes, and challenges. Encouraging C-suite executives to observe the intricate sequential workflow that must be followed to promote positive quality outcomes and patient safety (and explaining some of the steps and processes) is an especially beneficial way to educate about the discipline and all that takes place within the walls of the SPD.

Lastly, a heartfelt, handwritten note from SP leaders goes a long way toward making employees feel recognized and valued. Looking for more ways to recognize your employees/co-workers throughout SP Week and beyond? HSPA provides free posters, cards, certificates, and more that can be customized, downloaded, printed, and shared with team members. Visit https://myhspa.org/resources/sterile-processing-week/ to access the templates. However your SPD chooses to celebrate SP Week, we hope the seven days pack a punch and leave a lasting and positive impression on your team, customers, and facility executives.