ASC Experts: An Interview with Jason Bean on GI Reprocessing
By: Campbell Helm
As part of our ASC Experts series, I interviewed Jason Bean of STERIS, a specialist in GI reprocessing and sterile processing workflows. Jason shares practical guidance on building a reliable reprocessing program, from scope handling and staff training to documentation, compliance, and quality controls that protect patients and support efficient operations. In this interview, he breaks down what strong reprocessing looks like day to day, where facilities commonly run into risk, and the habits that help teams stay audit ready while maintaining consistent turnaround and performance.
Q: Can you share your background, your role at STERIS, and how long you have been in the GI space?
Bean: I have been with STERIS Corporation for nearly 21 years. I started in January as a microbiologist in our device testing group. About 15 to 16 years ago I moved into a marketing role, and today I am the Director of Global Marketing for GI Reprocessing at STERIS Corporation.
Q: What made you make the jump from the lab into marketing?
Bean: I like people and I am very interactive. I am more of an extrovert, so I wanted to be out in the real world seeing how things work. In the lab I felt like I was doing the same anonymous work repeatedly. Once I got out into facilities, I realized people were not always using our products the way I assumed they were. That helped me bring real feedback back to the team so we could build products that meet actual needs. For GI reprocessing, the biggest priorities are ease of use and compliance.
Q: Would you recommend that crossover from science into business or marketing?
Bean: Yes, for me it has helped a lot. I think the technical side can be harder to learn than the business and marketing side, so having a science background is a real advantage. Many people on our team have backgrounds in chemistry or engineering, and we also have team members with hands on reprocessing experience. Different perspectives help you see pain points you might miss otherwise.
Q: What is the most common mistake you see facilities making with reprocessing?
Bean: Reprocessing is a highly complex process, what I call the journey of the endoscope. There are many steps and within each phase there are multiple sub steps. For example, a duodenoscope there can be over 190 steps. I rarely see someone working from a true step by step checklist, so a lot depends on memory and routine, and that is where mistakes can happen. A common problem is point of use treatment at the bedside. If you have back-to-back cases, the first scope might not be wiped down and flushed properly, which increases the risk of bioburden and biofilm. Another major issue is manual cleaning. Manual cleaning is the most important step. If you do not manually clean correctly, you are not setting yourself up for success for high level disinfection or liquid chemical sterilization. We have improved processes from visual inspection to test the amount of protein or ATP on the scope with the use of chemical tests. Another large improvement is the ability to look outside but also inside the scope to identify pain points.
Q: What improvements have you seen in how facilities verify cleaning before disinfection or sterilization?
Bean: Historically many places relied heavily on visual inspection. Now there are additional methods to verify cleanliness, including chemical tests for things like protein or ATP. There are also tools that allow you to inspect inside channels, including devices used to look down on the lumen to identify damage or retained material. Using verification tools helps you confirm the scope is ready for the next step, instead of assuming it is ready.
Q: How does STERIS help ASCs stay compliant for AAAHC, Joint Commission, or CMS inspections?
Bean: Compliance is one of our core priorities. We do not want to sell something that puts a customer out of compliance. If standards change, we may obsolete a product so it is not used inappropriately. Communication with customers is key so we understand pain points and compliance gaps. We also work with professional organizations and engage with standards and guidelines to improve best practices. We have a clinical education team that can come in and do a mock review of your reprocessing setup and processes and make recommendations. Training and education are critical, and following the IFU is extremely important.
Q: What roles do documentation and tracking play, and what tools support that?
Bean: Documentation is essential. In healthcare, if it is not documented, it did not happen. Documentation helps you prove that processes occurred correctly, which matters for inspections and in any legal situation. We offer tracking solutions such as SPM and ConnectAssure that can show who performed a task, when it occurred, and whether steps and parameters were followed. That audit trail can be printed or produced when required.
Q: What innovations in the last 10 years have significantly changed reprocessing?
Bean: A major focus has been designing products to support ease of use, regulatory compliance, and workflow efficiency. Facilities are not all the same, and some are physically set up in ways that make compliance harder. We have advanced flushing aid systems, automated endoscope reprocessors, and software such as SPM that provides an audit trail with key cycle parameters like time, temperature, concentration, and other critical data. These tools help facilities show compliance and support consistent workflows.
Q: How has STERIS helped improve turnover time and get scopes back to the room faster?
Bean: Workflow management tools like SPM can help with efficiency. It can provide IFUs, visuals, and guidance at the point of work, which is especially helpful with staffing shortages or cross-trained staff. We also look at design features that reduce the chance of cross contamination. For example, some systems allow you to handle a basket or container rather than touching the scope itself, which helps reduce accidental contamination from glove changes and touch points. Drying is also critical. Proper external and internal drying, using appropriate filtered air approaches, supports safer storage and readiness because microorganisms grow less readily in dry environments.
Q: Are there tools STERIS is using to reduce human error and increase automation?
Bean: Yes. We spent a lot of time on voice of customer to understand what would help most. One example is the Inspire 3000, a cleaning and liquid chemical sterilization processing system. It includes intuitive on screen guidance, such as how to load a scope or change a filter. It can also require completion of key tasks before advancing, and it provides confirmation when steps are completed. It also uses touchless style controls where you can hover your hand to initiate actions. We have a validated cleaning claim through the FDA, but I still recommend manual cleaning at the sink. People clean differently, and the system helps pick up gaps when manual cleaning is not as thorough as it should be. It supports liquid chemical sterilization, which is receiving more attention for higher risk devices.
Q: In ASCs, speed is crucial. What is STERIS doing to help speed while maintaining safety?
Bean: ASCs are moving through cases quickly and more procedures are shifting into that setting. We focus on overall efficiency. In high level disinfection and liquid chemical sterilization, effectiveness is tied to time, temperature, and concentration, so we look at optimizing those factors responsibly. We also evaluate rinsing performance, chemistry characteristics like free rinsing, and which formulations best support the facility’s needs. Beyond cycle time, we reduce workload through workflow tools like scanning and RFID where appropriate. We also support unidirectional workflow design and can provide clinical education specialists to help redesign processes because some facilities are set up in ways that slow them down and increase risk.
Q: How does STERIS support ongoing training and education, especially for small teams?
Bean: Training is a cornerstone for us. We offer STERIS University, which includes free continuing education modules for customers on topics like endoscope reprocessing, infection prevention, science, and quality. We also provide in services during installations or when facilities have new staff. Early training helps prevent bad habits from developing. We also bring in subject matter experts to teach topics like cleaning verification, including differences between visual inspection, chemical tests, and borescope use. Each method has pros and cons, so facilities can build policies that match their environment and risk profile.
Q: What common bad habits do you see in reprocessing, and what causes them?
Bean: Rushing is a big factor, often due to pressure from procedures, urgent cases, or staffing constraints. Ergonomics and physical fatigue also matter. Techs can be bent over sinks, dealing with back and leg pain, and working long days. Most mistakes are not intentional. The goal is to make processes and products easier to execute correctly so that when someone has an off day or is under pressure, the system helps reduce the chance of an error.
Q: Where do you see GI reprocessing heading, especially as ASCs grow?
Bean: I expect more procedures will move to ASCs. I have heard physicians say that if a procedure can go to an ASC, it will go to an ASC. That means more volume and more pressure on speed, cost, and efficiency, while still maintaining safety and efficacy. Documentation will remain critical because ASCs face strict compliance expectations. Ongoing education will also be essential as staffing changes over time.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to an ASC administrator investing in GI reprocessing technology, what would it be?
Bean: Treat your facility the way you would want it run if you or someone you love were on the table. Cost matters, but safety and consistency matter more. Investing in verification tools may cost more, but they help confirm the scope is ready for the next step. Drying is also critical. Facilities should not rely on arbitrary hang time rules. They should perform a risk assessment based on their environment and processes. Some facilities can justify longer hang times because they have done their due diligence and maintain strong controls.
Q: What is your view on AI in reprocessing, and where could it help most?
Bean: AI is very promising. One of the best opportunities is in clean verification and borescope inspection. Borescopes are useful, but technicians may not always know exactly what they are seeing and may move too quickly. AI could help flag problems like pitting, damage, or other concerns and reduce interpretation variability. AI could also help identify issues earlier in the broader endoscopy journey as devices and systems become smarter, by alerting teams to findings that warrant further investigation.