The Outsourcing Bet Aiming to Steady Surgery Schedules

New Getinge and SteriPro partnership delivers scalable off-site sterile processing with tech-driven visibility for safer, smoother surgical care

4 Oct 2025

Getinge has formed a strategic partnership with SteriPro International to expand off-site sterile processing services across North America, offering hospitals an alternative to in-house units that are often constrained by space, staffing shortages and rising surgical volumes.

The agreement combines Getinge’s digital tracking tools with SteriPro’s network of reprocessing centres, where surgical instruments are washed, sterilised and checked before returning to hospitals for clinical use. The companies said the model is intended to increase capacity and improve the reliability of instrument supply for operating theatres.

Hospitals have traditionally overseen sterilisation on site, a practice that can be difficult to scale as surgical activity grows. The partners aim to address this by developing Reprocessing Centers of Excellence, designed to operate as specialised external hubs. The approach allows hospitals to reallocate internal staff and resources, while relying on dedicated facilities for sterilisation work.

A central feature of the collaboration is an integrated digital system that tracks the location and condition of instruments. Julia Elner, a senior leader at Getinge, said the pathway “illuminates every step of an instrument’s journey”, enabling real-time oversight of readiness and movement. The companies said this level of visibility can help reduce delays and avoid last-minute changes caused by missing or incomplete sets.

The initiative reflects broader interest in outsourcing sterile services as healthcare providers seek to streamline operations without compromising safety. Off-site processing supported by clear operational data is drawing attention from hospital groups looking to manage growing caseloads more predictably.

Getinge and SteriPro expect demand to rise as institutions reassess how best to support surgical teams. They said the model could help improve workflow resilience for hospitals across the region, while offering a more structured approach to instrument handling and patient safety.