Endo-Sterile Technician

About the role

This position performs delegated tasks in assigned work setting to assist with ENDO/OR room turnovers, patient care, and inventory stocking. Cleans/processes endoscopes, specialty scopes, and accessories according to manufacturer’s instructions and hospital policies including performing high level scope disinfection. Cleans, decontaminates, and sterilizes reusable patient care equipment, instrumentation, and supplies. Disassembles, inspects, inventories, and assembles procedural trays. Records and maintains required high level disinfection and sterilization records required by regulatory agencies.

Responsibilities

• Cleans, decontaminates, assembles, and processes reusable patient care equipment, instrumentation, endoscopes, and accessories according to manufacturer’s instructions (IFU’s).
• Follows departmental policies and procedures, infection control standards, and state/federal regulations.
• Distinguishes and identifies bio burden on instruments, scopes, and equipment.
• Operates all sterilization, high-level disinfection, and decontamination equipment in accordance with departmental policies and procedures safely and efficiently to maintain adequate inventory levels of ENDO/OR scopes, accessories, instruments, and supplies.
• Restocks accurately procedural carts/work areas with scopes, accessories, instruments, and supplies.
• Inventories and maintains adequate levels of disinfectants and scope/instrument cleaning solutions utilized in work areas.
• Checks the expiration dates (or hang times of scopes) of instrumentation, accessories, and supplies. Restocks accurately with unexpired products.
• Inventories and maintains adequate levels of scopes, accessories, instrumentation, and supplies.
• Stages and delivers procedural carts, stocking carts, and equipment.
• Places or returns scopes, instrumentation, supplies, or equipment to designated storage locations.
• Maintains egress corridors.
• Assembles, cleans, and tracks procedural carts, scope containers, and transport bins.
• Records and maintains required sterilization records and QA logs such as manometry catheter processing log.
• Performs and maintains records of daily quality assurance checks on endoscopy and specialty scopes/instruments/equipment.
• Utilizes computer software to track scope and instrument processing.
• Reports and records missing and or damaged scopes/accessories/instruments to leadership team.
• Performs delegated tasks to assist with ENDO/OR room turnovers.
• Room turnovers may include pre-cleaning of scopes at point of use, post-case cleaning, and cleaning of equipment/environment.
• May perform point of care testing and quality processing cleaning audits within the scope of support role.
• Assists with patient transfers under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.
• Cleans transport devices.
• Utilizes appropriate aseptic technique to open sterile supplies for patient use or for sterile field.
• Performs designated daily, weekly, and/or monthly cleaning tasks including scope cabinets, storerooms, procedural rooms, computers, monitors, warmers, carts, and autoclaves.
• Transports non-controlled substances at the request of a licensed care provider.
• May transport patient with a PCA/Epidural pump.
• Transports specimens and blood at the request of a licensed care provider.
• Promptly runs errands as directed.
• Transports linens, trash, and bio hazardous materials according to established policies wearing PPE and ensuring correct signage is in place prior to transport.
• Assists in routine unit operations as directed/needed to assure smooth communication and function of the unit.
• Relays accurate telephone, visitor, patient, and healthcare provider messages to appropriate persons in a timely manner.
• Daily maintains work area(s) in a clean, neat, and orderly fashion.
• Cleans work area prior to end of shift in preparation for the oncoming shift.
• Attends regularly scheduled in-services and staff meetings.
• Participates in training to enhance care and handling of new scopes, Instruments, equipment, accessories, and supplies.
• Covers ENDO/OR processing technician call as needed to meet departmental operational needs.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) through the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) OR Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) through the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) within 12 months of hire.
• Obtain certification in Basic Life Support within 30 days of hire.

Skills and Abilities

• Must be able to operate computer programs with training such as instrument tracking system and scope cleaning software;
• Able to use English verbal and written proficiencies to utilize high level disinfection/sterilization IFU’s;
• Ability to follow written and verbal directions;
• Team-centered professional communications with physicians, nurses, technicians, and other customers;
• Knowledge of infection control principles applicable in hospital/clinical/care environment setting;
• Abilities to perform multi-step procedures and prioritize work tasks.