About
Every sterile processing department (SPD) must achieve three primary goals related to patient safety: Instruments must be Available, Functional and Safe for Use (AFS) for each patient. To achieve AFS, four key variables must be maximized; number of staff, staff proficiency, equipment/supplies/facilities, and efficiency. Shortages in any of these variables will lead to negative impacts on AFS. A Quality Management System (QMS), which overarches AFS and its four variables, is necessary for the SPD to understand how well it is performing from a patient safety perspective. Our panelists will describe a collaboration between a large health system and operating room services provider SpecialtyCare that reduced the SPD error rate from a high of 22.5% negatively affected cases to an average of approximately 1%.
When
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 · 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (US & Canada) (GMT -4:00)
WEBINAR ENDED
Presenters
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Joe Paone
Content Director, Healthcare, Periop Leader Network | Access Intelligence
Joe Paone is content director of Periop Leader Network and Periop Leader Week, both of which he joined in November 2025. Previously, he served as senior editor of AORN’s Outpatient Surgery Magazine from 2019 to 2025. Prior to entering the healthcare sector, he covered consumer electronics and information technology for numerous publications.
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Gregory Agoston, BS, MBA, CRCST, LSS
Vice President, Client Services, SpecialtyCare
Gregg Agoston brings more than 36 years of leadership experience in the healthcare industry, with a career dedicated to improving surgical safety, operational performance, and sterile processing excellence. As Vice President, Client Services at SpecialtyCare, Gregg leads national initiatives that transform CS/SPD departments into high reliability, high impact teams that directly elevate patient outcomes and OR efficiency. A recognized voice in the field, Gregg has contributed to numerous publications and industry discussions highlighting the critical role of a well-functioning sterile processing department—and the significant risks hospitals face when quality, training, and workflow standards fall behind. His work centers on modernizing SPD operations, strengthening competency pathways, and driving measurable improvements in instrument readiness, safety, and throughput. Gregg’s passion is helping hospitals build sustainable, high-performing sterile processing environments that protect patients, support surgical teams, and reduce preventable errors. His decades of experience, combined with SpecialtyCare’s national reach and resources, position him as a leading advocate for elevating SPD performance across the country.
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Karen Rutt, MSN, MBA, MHA, CPAN, NE-BC, CSSM
System Director, Perioperative Services, Tower Health
Karen Rutt is an accomplished healthcare executive serving as System Director of Perioperative Services. With extensive experience in surgical services, clinical operations, and healthcare leadership, she provides strategic and operational oversight of perioperative programs across the health system. Her leadership focuses on advancing patient-centered care, optimizing operational performance, and fostering a culture of quality, safety, and innovation. Karen is recognized for her collaborative leadership style and her ability to develop high-performing teams that deliver exceptional clinical and operational outcomes. She works closely with physicians, nursing leaders, and interdisciplinary teams to improve efficiency, enhance the patient experience, and support organizational goals. Karen is a graduate of the Reading Hospital School of Nursing and holds a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Health Administration (MHA) from the University of Phoenix. Her educational background provides a unique blend of clinical expertise, business acumen, and healthcare administration knowledge. Karen holds the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN), Nurse Executive Board Certified (NE-BC), and Certified Surgical Services Manager (CSSM) credentials, reflecting her commitment to excellence in perioperative nursing, healthcare leadership, and surgical services management. She maintains a strong dedication to professional development, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, patient safety, and workforce engagement. Passionate about developing future healthcare leaders and advancing surgical care delivery, Karen remains dedicated to driving innovation, continuous improvement, and exceptional outcomes for patients, caregivers, and the communities she serves.
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