Podcast Summary: Bred To Lead | With Dr. Jake Taylor Jacobs

Episode: SPD911 EP2 PART 1 – The Pay Problem, Staffing Challenges & The Future of Sterile Processing (Part 1)
Release Date: February 23, 2025
Guests: Sharon Green-Golden & Derrick Jones
Host: Dr. Jake Taylor Jacobs, President and COO of SIPS Healthcare Solutions
Produced by: SIPS Healthcare Solutions

Introduction

In the second episode of SPD911, titled "The Pay Problem, Staffing Challenges & The Future of Sterile Processing (Part 1)," host Dr. Jake Taylor Jacobs delves into critical issues facing sterile processing departments (SPDs) today. Joined by industry experts Sharon Green-Golden (SGG), a leader in compliance and regulatory standards, and Derrick Jones (DJ), a specialist in operational efficiency and team development, the episode explores the multifaceted challenges SPDs encounter, particularly focusing on compensation, staffing, and the future trajectory of the field.

The Pay Problem: SPD Techs Underpaid for Critical Work

Timestamp: [10:04] – [22:16]

Dr. Jacobs opens the discussion with a pressing concern: SPD technicians (techs) feel underpaid relative to their level of responsibility and expertise. As hospitals increase salaries for other healthcare roles, SPD wages remain stagnant despite growing job complexities and certification requirements.

Sharon Green-Golden (SGG) articulates the core of the issue:

"People do not understand, first of all, the importance of what is done in sterile processing. If they understood the importance of what we do, they would be willing to pay us to help them have infection-free lives." [11:46]

She highlights that SPDs are often erroneously grouped with lower-paid departments like environmental services or kitchen staff, undermining the specialized knowledge and critical role SPD techs play in patient safety. SGG emphasizes the disparity:

"We are the one group that they're not paying us for our expertise... we're dealing with instruments going into somebody's body at some point." [17:58]

Derrick Jones (DJ) adds to the conversation by pointing out the historical undervaluation of SPD roles and the impact of inadequate pay on employee retention and job satisfaction:

"In Missouri, the average salary was anywhere from 12 to $15 starting entry. You can’t, you need two full-time jobs to pay your apartment rent as an adult." [19:03]

Challenges with Staffing and Traveling Techs

Timestamp: [25:55] – [32:57]

The discussion pivots to staffing challenges, particularly the reliance on traveling technicians and the resultant quality issues. SGG critiques the lack of proper vetting by hospitals when hiring traveling techs:

"Certification, as I say... experience and knowledge. Certified with experience, knowledge, and some vetting." [28:58]

She recounts experiences where traveling techs lacked the necessary skills, leading to operational inefficiencies and compromised patient safety:

"Everyone that was traveling didn't know what they were doing... they have not a clue." [28:58]

DJ echoes these sentiments, noting that many managers’ resumes are padded with superficial managerial tasks that don't reflect true operational competence:

"They have no real experience. You come into an SPD on a Monday morning and your OR is tearing everything open. What do you do?" [42:31]

The Importance of Certification and Experience

Timestamp: [33:43] – [43:26]

SGG and DJ emphasize that certification alone isn't sufficient; hands-on experience is paramount. SGG elaborates on the necessity of combining certification with practical knowledge:

"Certification is having the basic information to handle instruments. Then you get quality. See, you get what you pay for." [15:06]

DJ discusses the prevalence of managers who lack genuine experience, underscoring the need for robust training and authentic expertise:

"They have no clue. Because that wasn't in the book. That comes with experience." [43:26]

Advocacy for Better Pay and Recognition

Timestamp: [30:47] – [48:01]

The conversation shifts to strategies for advocating higher pay and better financial recognition for SPD techs. SGG shares proactive steps taken to bridge the wage gap, such as bringing CEOs to SPD departments to directly interact with techs and highlight their essential roles:

"We lost people to other hospitals because they're paying more, because they realize the importance of paying people." [20:18]

She urges hospital administrations to recognize SPD as a clinical function rather than a non-clinical one, advocating for proper compensation commensurate with the critical nature of their work.

DJ suggests gathering concrete evidence of SPD’s impact on patient safety and outcomes to make a compelling case for higher wages:

"We have to gather the concrete volume evidence... correlate that with patient safety and outcomes to tell the story of the importance of our role." [19:03]

Dr. Jacobs reinforces the need for leadership development within SPDs, highlighting the importance of certifications complemented by leadership training:

"If the hospital system were to be proactive in the development of their team... it should come with a raise." [35:08]

Scenario Two: Doing More with Less – Increasing Workloads Without Increasing Support

Timestamp: [48:01] – [51:04]

In the continuation of the episode, Dr. Jacobs introduces the second scenario addressing the strain on SPD departments:

"Hospitals now are demanding faster turnaround times, more accountability, and stricter compliance standards without increasing FTEs, upgrading outdated systems, or providing additional training." [48:01]

Sharon Green-Golden (SGG) asserts the necessity of honest communication with hospital administrations about the limitations and needs of SPD departments:

"Ignorance is not a defense. You have to inform people... We cannot do it. We cannot function. And just giving me a body is not the answer." [49:40]

She emphasizes that merely increasing staff numbers without ensuring quality and proper training exacerbates operational challenges and compromises patient safety.

Derrick Jones (DJ) echoes SGG's concerns, pointing out the lack of strategic planning and the resultant high-pressure environment:

"There’s a lack of ability to do onboarding training. Supervisors don't have time to properly vet this traveler or agency staff that's coming in." [42:31]

Conclusion and Future Directions

Timestamp: [35:08] – [51:04]

Dr. Jacobs and his guests conclude the episode by reiterating the importance of transitioning SPDs from being viewed as cost centers to profit centers. They advocate for investment in leadership development, comprehensive training programs, and proper compensation structures to ensure SPD departments can meet the evolving demands of healthcare systems.

Dr. Jacobs encapsulates the episode’s core message:

"Leadership isn’t some inherent quality coded into your DNA—it’s developed, honed, and forged through experiences, challenges, and intentional growth." [System Description]

He calls for a collective effort to transform SPD departments through strategic advocacy, education, and commitment to excellence, ensuring that SPDs are adequately staffed, fairly compensated, and recognized for their pivotal role in patient care.

Notable Quotes:

• SGG: "We are the one group that they're not paying us for our expertise... we're dealing with instruments going into somebody's body at some point." [17:58]

• DJ: "In Missouri, the average salary was anywhere from 12 to $15 starting entry. You can’t, you need two full-time jobs to pay your apartment rent as an adult." [19:03]

• SGG: "Ignorance is not a defense. You have to inform people... We cannot do it. We cannot function." [49:40]

• Dr. Jacobs: "Leadership isn’t some inherent quality coded into your DNA—it’s developed, honed, and forged through experiences, challenges, and intentional growth." [System Description]

This episode of SPD911 serves as a clarion call for recognizing and addressing the systemic issues within sterile processing departments, advocating for a paradigm shift from undervaluation to rightful recognition and compensation. Through candid discussions and expert insights, Dr. Jacobs, SGG, and DJ provide actionable strategies to empower SPD leaders and elevate the profession.