Sterile Processing (SPD) Core Tech

About the role

This is a skilled liaison position requiring more knowledge, critical thinking/judgment and communication skills to provide improved services to our surgeons and patients. Providing appropriate instrumentation by proactively collaborating with the OR staff, vendors, and SPD staff, thus improving the relationship between Sterile Processing and the OR, increasing customer satisfaction and reducing patient delays or cancellations.

Responsibilities and duties

• Collaborate with instrument vendors to understand needs for upcoming cases and coordinate SPD processes to ensure instruments are available
• Coordinate and communicate schedule changes between the OR and sterile processing
• Expedite the decontamination, assembly and sterilization of priority trays
• Communicate with Team Leads and OR Leads the status of needed trays
• Review pick tickets daily for next day’s cases to ensure all needs can be met without interruption of service
• Responsible for the decontamination, disinfection and cleaning or various reusable surgical instruments, via mechanical or handwashing methods, while strictly adhering to OSHA safety standards
• Demonstrate working knowledge of sterilization process and techniques involving both steam and chemical means, including appropriate documentation, storage and transportation
• Must have a thorough understanding of the sterilizer mechanical and chemical indicators, as well as the proper use and interpretation of the biological monitoring system
• Effectively enters, modifies and searches for relevant information in the instrument tracking system
• Demonstrates knowledge of surgical case preparation; correctly identifies and retrieves pertinent instruments and supplies for scheduled cases or upon request
• Incorporates infection control guidelines while transferring, storing and transporting sterile packages
• Follows and promotes industry standards and best practices, as supported by AAMI and AORN
• Responsible for aiding in the education and training of fellow associates
• As a High Reliability Organization (HRO), responsibilities require focus on safety, quality and efficiency in performing job duties

Minimum qualifications

• High School or GED (Required)
• IAHCSMM - International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management certification
• Certified through the HealthCare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) or obtain Certification within 90 days
• Instrumentation and procedural knowledge
• 3–4 years of SPD experience