2026 SPD of the Year Award: Celebrating Excellence in Sterile Processing

Central sterile and sterile processing departments are the backbone of safe, efficient patient care, and it’s time to recognize the teams raising the bar.

Nominations are now open for the 2026 SPD of the Year Award, honoring an outstanding sterile processing department that demonstrates excellence across performance, teamwork, innovation, and strategic leadership.

Each year, this award shines a spotlight on SPD teams that go above and beyond to support clinicians, protect patients, and drive meaningful improvements across their organizations. If your department, or one you work closely with, has achieved measurable impact, this is your opportunity to share that story.

Award Categories 

Submissions will be evaluated across five core areas:

1.       Customer Service: How the department supports internal customers such as the OR and nursing units through effective processing and distribution.

2.       Productivity: Improvements in output, service levels, quality, cost savings, or patient benefits, including the use of technology.

3.       Teamwork: How staff collaborate to create a high-performing, cohesive department.

4.       Education and Training: Commitment to preparing staff for safe, efficient work and long-term career advancement.

5.       Strategic Outlook: Vision, planning, innovation, and originality in shaping the department's future.

There is no limit on submission length, and nominees are encouraged to include quantitative data to support their achievements.

Why Nominate? 

The winning SPD team will receive:

¾    National recognition in the April/May 2026 Issue of Healthcare Purchasing News.

¾    Industry-wide visibility for their achievements.

¾    Opportunities for expanded editorial coverage and celebration throughout the year.

The 2025 SPD of the Year, UF Health Shands, set a powerful example of what’s possible when operational excellence, culture, and strategy align. Now, we’re looking for the next team to take the spotlight.

Submit a Nomination 

If your SPD has a story worth sharing, or you know a team that deserves recognition, don’t wait.

Submit your nomination today and help celebrate the professionals advancing sterile processing excellence.