Sterile Processing Technician

Job Profile Summary

This role focuses on activities related to the support services functions, such as dietary and food services, environmental services, general facilities, repair and maintenance, parking, sterilization and transportation to ensure all required support activities are completed in a timely manner and meet the organization's quality standards and expectations. In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Sterilization Services duties: Maintains sterile equipment, assembles medical equipment, maintains inventory, orders supplies, and provides life-saving instruments to those performing medical procedures. A clinical technologist role that has specialized knowledge or skills gained through a combination of vocational education, training, and experience. This role will be most commonly applied to patient care and/or scientific/laboratory jobs. An entry-level role typically requiring little to no prior knowledge or experience and requiring vocational or technical education. Work is routine or follows standard procedures, is closely supervised, and communicates information that requires little explanation or interpretation.

Job Overview

This position is responsible for the decontamination, assembly, and sterilization of all instruments used throughout the hospital including general surgical instrumentation. Responsibilities include receiving, sorting, and decontamination of surgical/clinic items and instrumentation; inspection and packaging of single instruments and instrument kits; identification of appropriate sterilization method and cycle selection, appropriate documentation for all sterile processes; and accurate inventory assignment relating to the case cart build process.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:

1. High school diploma or equivalent.

2. Central Services Technician National Certification (CRCST) OR Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) within 6 months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Completion of a certified program in Central Processing.

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Receives soiled, used, and/or contaminated equipment, surgical instruments, scopes, and supplies from Operating Rooms, patient care units, and specialized areas.

2. Disassembles items as needed before choosing appropriate cleaning method.

3. Identifies items in need of repair upon receipt and ensures information is maintained during cleaning process.

4. Selects and utilizes appropriate manual cleaning tools to achieve instrument decontamination, including but not limited to instrument brushes, enzymatic detergent, flushing devices, ultrasonic bath, leak testers, etc.

5. Selects and utilizes appropriate automated cleaning tools to achieve instrument decontamination; this includes loading and selecting appropriate cycles on automated washers.

6. Documents all work performed utilizing instrument tracking software.

7. Inspects and assembles all equipment, instruments, scopes, and instrument sets following product recipe, verifies items are functional, free of debris and required per instrument recipe.

8. Documents items missing from instrument set, escalating set to SPD Supervisor or Designee for further guidance.

9. Selects appropriate packaging method, including any sterilization accessories (corner protectors etc.) ensures all external indicators and/or labels are securely affixed to item.

10. Transports items to sterilization as needed.

11. Interprets package labeling to select appropriate sterilization method and approved cycle, options include Steam, Hydrogen Peroxide Plasma, or others as required.

12. Inspects packages to ensure all external indicators, filters, and/or labels are securely affixed to items, returns non-satisfactory products to instrument room.

13. Loads sterilizer as appropriate to ensure cycle completion; includes biological testing as appropriate. Performs routine sterilizer testing and maintenance including biological monitoring, leak test, bowie dick test, and daily/weekly sterilizer maintenance as appropriate.

14. Utilizes patient specific pick lists to accurately gather surgical instruments and disposable supplies requested by attending surgeon or another Peri-Operative representative.

15. Documents case cart build process in instrument tracking software, continuously updating the record as items are fulfilled to maintain integrity of needs list.

16. Inspects items during the pick process to ensure package integrity remains intact, package is within expiration date, and substitutions are appropriate.

17. Communicates unmet surgical supply requests to leadership for resolution assistance.

18. Returns supplies not used after surgical procedures to their proper stock location.

19. Wears personal protective equipment (PPE) as required and at all times.

20. Maintains cleans work area by wiping area with antibacterial agent upon work completion or as needed.

21. Documents arrival and cleaning process utilizing asset tracking software.

22. Interprets and appropriately documents results of sterilizer testing.

23. Escalates positive results as appropriate for intervention.

Physical Requirements:

1. Frequently required to lift, reach, carry, push and pull 40-50 lbs or more.

2. Stand/sit combination of eight (8) hours or length of assignment.

2. Noting attributes of objects such as size, temperature, or texture by touching with fingertips.

4. Hearing spoken words to communication oral information to customers accurately, quickly, and loudly enough in the English language.

5. Perceiving sounds such as phones ringing, beepers, alarms and buzzers on equipment.

6. Clarity of both near and far vision. Able to distinguish color, i.e. alarms and buzzers on equipment, and color codes on instrumentation.

Skills & Abilities:

1. Efficient in the operation of all equipment within the department.

2. Knowledgeable with general and specialty instrumentation.

3. Ability to listen to instruction, and translate it into an activity and reproduce what is taught.

4. Ability to be extremely conscientious with regard to procedures.

5. Ability to follow guidelines, refraining from short cuts where technique is involved.

6. Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize tasks and handle changing environment and assignments.

7. Ability to speak and hear effectively and meet telephone and customer service standards.

8. Computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office and Instrument Tracking systems.

9. Knowledge of the hospital, infection control, and medical terminology.