Certified Sterile Processing Technician

Main Function

The Sterile Processing Technician performs assigned duties under the direction of a licensed professional or member of the management team. The Sterile Processing Technician performs and participates in decontamination, cleaning, assembling, packaging, scanning, sterilization, storage and distribution of reusable surgical instrumentation and equipment. Is proficient in the operation of autoclaves, ultrasonic cleaners, washer sterilizers and other equipment for processing of surgical instrumentation. Collaborates with the surgical staff and management team in daily operations pertaining to inventory control, expense reduction, and instrumentation requests. Receives, disinfects, and redistributes equipment as well as necessary soft good supplies in the Central Services area.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Cleans and processes Scopes and surgical instruments - understands and acts upon cleaning parameters for all items used in surgery, i.e. understands the processing requirements for hand-washing items as compared to knowing what items can be machine washed.
• Understands the correct method of sterilization for surgical items. Knows how to operate all processing equipment.
• Collaborates with the surgical staff and management team in daily operations pertaining to inventory control, expense reduction, and instrumentation requests.
• Operates autoclaves, ultrasonic and other processing equipment.
• Maintains instrument tray lists.
• Checks sterile supplies to ensure that they are stored to enhance sterility maintenance and that the packing has not been compromised.
• Is responsible for instrument processing, cleaning and sterilization - reads and understands a tray manufacturing list. Recognizes instruments by name and service usage.
• Sanitizes, maintains, and distributes; equipment, instruments, and soft medical supplies to hospital departments and AMS clinics.
• Places orders to Storeroom and outside vendors in an effort to maintain inventory and Central Service par levels.
• Conducts daily patient charges of distributed medical supplies and equipment.
• Coordinates pick up and drop off of instruments, equipment, and medical supplies to hospital departments and AMS clinics. Verifies that equipment functions properly for equipment repair or replacement and removes defective equipment.
• Coordinates with Storeroom, Purchasing Dept., and Clinical Engineering to provide necessary specialty equipment throughout the AOMC campus.
• Maintains Code Carts and Isolation Carts.
• Maintains a clean work area, assists with maintaining established departmental policies and procedures, objective and quality improvement, safety and environmental and infection control standards.
• Attends all annual mandatory educational programs as required by position.
• Employee understands and demonstrates the importance of satisfying the needs of the customer/patient by interacting with him/her in a friendly and caring way, being attentive to the customer's needs, both psychologically and physically, and by taking the initiative to maintain communication with the customer in order to provide a secure and pleasant experience with the Medical Center.
• It is understood that this lists typical duties for the classification and is not to be considered inclusive of all duties, which may be assigned.

Experience/Education

• Candidates must meet following criteria:
  • Knowledge of applicable sanitary, infection control and safety standards sufficient to be able to perform assignments within safety parameters
  • Has successfully passed a nationally accredited central service exam for central service technicians; and holds and maintains one of the following credentials administered by a nationally accredited central service technician credentialing organization: certified registered central service technician credential; certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential; or a substantially equivalent credential
  • Must complete 10 contact hours or CEU credits annually
  • A central service technician who does not meet the requirements shall have 18 months from the date of hire to obtain the certified registered central service technician credential or the certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential. This certification must be maintained.

CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR) REQUIREMENTS

No CPR required.

Physical Demands

Must be able to meet the demands of an active position, including reaching above head, extensive walking, stooping, standing and lifting light to heavy objects most of the day.

Exposure Category

Category I. Tasks that involve exposure to blood and body fluid or tissue.