Len Sparks to Present at HSPA Pacific Northwest Chapter Spring Seminar
On March 21, 2026, sterile processing professionals across the Pacific Northwest will gather in Seattle for the HSPA Pacific Northwest Chapter Spring Seminar—an education and networking event offering 6.0 CEUs for both HSPA and CBSPD attendees
This year, Len Sparks of VERDA Water Quality Systems will present an important session titled:
“ST108: What’s Next?
How AAMI TIR119 Will Help Hospitals Overcome the Real-World Challenges of ST108 Implementation.”
The seminar will be held at the Wright Auditorium at Seattle Children’s Hospital, with doors opening at 7:30 AM
Moving Beyond Awareness to Implementation
By now, most Sterile Processing and Facilities leaders have heard of ANSI/AAMI ST108:2023. The standard clearly defines water quality requirements for medical device processing. But understanding the standard is one thing. Implementing it is something else entirely.
Across the country, hospitals are encountering common challenges:
Interpreting testing parameters
Managing infrastructure limitations
Clarifying responsibility between Facilities and SPD
Maintaining consistent documentation
Sustaining compliance over time
Len’s session focuses not on introducing ST108—but on what comes next.
Why TIR119 Matters
AAMI is currently developing TIR119, a Technical Information Report designed to provide practical, step-by-step implementation guidance for ST108.
While ST108 defines what is required, TIR119 is being written to clarify how hospitals can operationalize those requirements in real-world environments.
As a member of the AAMI committee that authored ST108 and a contributor to the TIR119 development effort, Len will offer attendees an insider’s perspective on:
Why TIR119 was needed
The most common compliance breakdowns seen nationally
How the document will clarify roles and accountability
Practical steps hospitals can take now to prepare
What Attendees Will Gain
This intermediate-level session is designed for Sterile Processing leaders who are already aware of ST108 but need clarity on implementation.
Participants will learn how to:
Recognize common compliance risks before they trigger survey findings
Strengthen communication flow between Facilities, SPD, Infection Prevention, and OEMs
Build a sustainable water management framework
Prioritize foundational steps that reduce costly rework later
The session will include interactive elements, knowledge checks, and scenario-based discussions to ensure practical takeaways.
A Shared Responsibility
Water quality compliance does not live in a single department.
Achieving and sustaining ST108-compliant Critical Water requires coordinated effort between Facilities, SPD, Infection Prevention, and hospital leadership. When communication breaks down, compliance risk increases.
This session will help attendees visualize where responsibilities begin and end—and how to close the gaps that commonly derail water management programs.
Join Us in Seattle
The HSPA Pacific Northwest Chapter Spring Seminar is filling up fast. It offers a valuable opportunity for education and networking within the sterile processing community.
If you are in the Pacific Northwest—or planning to attend—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
We look forward to seeing you in Seattle.