History of the PWSPA

In September of 1984, Sterile Processing Professionals from The Inland Empire Chapter of ASHCSP, Southern California, IAHCSMM - Los Angeles Chapter, Orange County CS Association, and San Diego Central Service Association gathered at St. Bernadine Medical Center, San Bernardino, to forge a California Chapter. Over the next 12 months, these dedicated individuals met monthly, pooling their expertise and passion to plan the birth of our organization. Job descriptions were meticulously crafted, By-Laws were thoughtfully discussed, minutes of all meetings were diligently recorded, and the idea of certification for the state of California was first broached. Our first name for the organization was the California State Central Service Association (CSCSA).

On November 15, 1985, a group of dedicated individuals came together in San Francisco to share their ideas and passion for their work. This gathering led to the creation of the California Central Service Association, marking the beginning of a new era. The association wasted no time in organizing successful statewide educational conferences and vendor exhibits, paving the way for valuable learning and networking opportunities. As the association grew, it introduced certification programs and expanded its reach to different regions, all while staying true to its mission of promoting excellence in sterile processing. The 4th Conference in 1989, themed "Sailing into the 90s," showcased innovation and hands-on learning, setting the stage for even greater achievements in the future.

In 2001, our organization had achieved remarkable success, proudly boasting over 1,200 members. After years of independence, the board realized the importance of further growth and decided to explore the opportunity of joining a National Organization. Letters were sent to the International Association of Healthcare Material Management (IAHCSMM) and to The American Society for Healthcare Central Service Professionals (ASHCSP), expressing our keen interest in becoming a part of a national organization. That year marked a significant milestone in our journey as we held our first conference outside of California, venturing to Las Vegas, where our members eagerly followed. At that conference, the President of IAHCSMM – Lyndell Dorrell, and the Secretary-Treasurer – Richard Schule, attended the Board meeting to discuss the potential of joining IAHCSMM. The Board presented the idea to the members, who overwhelmingly voted to embrace this new chapter in our history.

In May 2002, at the IAHCSMM Annual Conference in St. Louis, CCSA was accepted as an Affiliated Chapter. All Technicians certified with CCSA were grandfathered in as CRCST. Due to the chapter's size, with nearly 1000 members, we were given positions as chapter reps on the IAHCSMM Executive Board. During this period, the Golden Gate Chapter of ASHCSP decided to become part of CCSA, representing the San Francisco area. Meetings began with the Southern California IAHCSMM Chapter to discuss merging with CCSA and becoming one IAHCSMM chapter.

Over the years, we have continued to host successful annual conferences, and in 2002, we launched our one-day traveling seminars, bringing educational programs to members across the state, year after year.

In December of 2022 CCSA officially became Pacific West Sterile Processing Association (PWSPA) with a new logo to represent the transition from central to sterile processing. Hawaii and Arizona were added as a regions as years to follow. Currently PWSPA provides education to California, Nevada, Hawaii and Arizona states.

Pacific West Sterile Processing Association has provided educational opportunities to our members for over 38 years. As one of the largest chapters within HSPA Umbrella, PWSPA takes immense pride in ensuring that out members are equipped with the latest information about trends, policies, and best practices that can be cultivated in your department’s best practices.