Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania USA January 17 2024 – In a groundbreaking virtual event on December 13, 2023, the medical device industry witnessed a collaborative effort towards enhancing sterilization oversight. The virtually hosted MedAccred Sterilization Town Hall brought together over 30 attendees, including representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), leading medical device OEMs, and Contract Sterilizers.

Among the esteemed attendees were Chris Eustace, VP of Global Quality Assurance at Sterigenics, who highlighted the value of MedAccred Sterilization audits in preparing for regulatory inspections. Meredith Andresen, Quality Systems Director at Medtronic, emphasized the commitment to accredit all Sterilizers to MedAccred, stating, “It just makes sense.” Also in attendance were Marine Vient, Quality Manager at Ionisos, Alberto Romeo, Manager of Global Supplier Quality at Stryker and Christophe Deneux, Sr. Director of Global Sterility Assurance at BD

The event featured insightful discussions led by industry experts. Speakers addressed crucial topics relevant to the MedAccred Sterilization accreditation process and its significance in ensuring consistent/standardized oversight resulting in fewer redundant onsite audits. Bob Lizewski, VP of MedAccred, stressed that a unified accreditation approach is essential to maintain effective and efficient sterilization oversight and ensure patient safety.

The Town Hall was driven by a collective effort to support MedAccred Sterilization audits. MedAccred Subscribers, including Medtronic, Stryker, and BD, unified to encourage Contract Sterilizers to pursue accreditation. The FDA, endorsing this approach, shared valuable perspectives during the event.

Looking ahead, plans for additional Town Halls in 2024 will be announced. The industry is invited to stay tuned for further discussions and collaborations that aim to elevate quality standards across the medical device sector. Contact MedAccredInterest@p-r-i.org for details.