Top Central Supply organizations merge
On Sept. 18 the American Society for Healthcare Central Service Professionals (ASHCSP) announced its intent to merge with the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM). ASHCSP, a Personal Membership Group of the American Hospital Association, will merge with its international counterpart in order to unify the organizations to create a stronger voice for the industry's professionals, including technicians, supervisors, managers, directors and educators.
The organizations noted the increasingly intense focus on ongoing education and certification for Central Supply professionals because of advances in technologies, infection-control related challenges and increased regulatory requirements. The said the merger is intended to support enhanced lobbying efforts, more prompt, efficient business practices and stronger education through the development of more robust educational conferences and resources.
"This unification creates a critical mass that will lead to a stable foundation, eliminate duplication and allow us to build for the future," said Penny Sabrosky, 2007 ASHCSP President.
Read a news release on the ASHCSP/IAHCSMM merger.
The merger created some concern among Central Supply professionals regarding potential changes in certification procedures. Such concerns were addressed in a Sept. 19 news release issue after the merger announcement. The news release issued by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing & Distribution (CBSPD) Board of Directors states:
Please be advised that this merger in no way affects the CBSPD or personnel certified through CBSPD. The CBSPD is and always has been a free-standing, independent certification board offering international certifications for Sterile Processing technicians, supervisors, managers, surgical instrument processors and ambulatory surgery Sterile Processing technicians.
Read the CBSPD news release.
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