The Future of Sterile Processing Leadership: Building Autonomy and Expanding Impact

At the upcoming HSPA conference, Kevin Bush, Jr, enterprise director of shared surgical services for Emory Healthcare, in Atlanta, Georgia, will present on the 5 essential management skills sterile processing (SP) leaders need for success at the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association Annual Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, from April 26 through 29, 2025. His presentation results from years of research and hands-on experience, shaped by frequent questions from nursing leaders on what makes a great sterile processing manager.

“I will be presenting on the five management skills that I believe sterile processes, and leaders of today will need to be successful,” Bush said. “I was inspired through a number of emails I've received questions from nursing leadership about how to pick a great start processing leader, and I just kind of developed this presentation over the years based on some research about management as well as some of my personal experiences. And what I've seen out in the market.”

Bush emphasizes that sterile processing leadership is multidimensional. Leaders must be well-versed in technical tasks, patient safety, risk management, accreditation, human resources, and health care operations. This multifaceted role requires a dynamic skill set that transcends traditional technician training. SP leaders must be equipped to manage budgets, analyze staffing needs, and articulate their department’s contributions to surgical outcomes, patient length of stay, and overall hospital efficiency.

Bush says one of the most pressing challenges is the lack of professional autonomy. Many SP departments report under nursing, supply chain, or operational leadership, rarely with full control over their own clinical outcomes. This lack of authority can hinder effective decision-making and accountability. He advocates for dedicated SP leadership with a clear voice at the table and the authority to standardize practices, track quality metrics, and manage performance independently.

“One of the biggest challenges that I've kind of thought about, and I'm in the process of researching, has been professional autonomy, and it's because the role has grown out of a subset of nursing surgical technology, and now we have sterile processing fully working as partners in between those groups,” Bush said. “But oftentimes, organizations will place the start of processing under a nursing leader. Sometimes it's under material management, and sometimes it reports to the operational leader. So, I think probably one of the biggest challenges that start processing leaders are dealing with is having professional autonomy and actual control over their work in an environment that can be very intense at times.”

Bush also highlights the persistent friction between SP and the operating room, which often stems from historical clinical hierarchies rather than collaboration. Bridging this divide, he argues, starts with mutual understanding and interdependence.

The HSPA conference offers leaders a platform to recharge, gain new insights, and connect with peers across the country and the world. For SP professionals striving for recognition, voice, and impact, it is an opportunity to learn how to claim their place as essential, strategic partners in patient care.