Sterile Processing Tech

About the Role

As our Sterile Processing Professional, you will be a critical guardian of patient safety, ensuring surgical teams receive correct, fully functional, and sterile instrumentation. You will expertly perform decontamination, prep and pack, sterilization, and dispatch with efficiency, expertise, and accuracy. You will continuously expand your knowledge of standards and procedures for surgical instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Collects and decontaminates and cleans reusable equipment and/or supplies and associated storage units in accordance with department, manufacturer, and OSHA standards.
• Collects, cleans/decontaminates, checks, distributes, and tracks patient care equipment.
• Inspects, disassembles, sorts, cleans, and processes reusable instrumentation and equipment; selects and operates specialized cleaning equipment; follows manufacturer recommendations for cleaning guidelines and proper use of cleaning agents.
• Identifies, inspects, and assembles all general and specialty instruments, various power equipment, laser and endoscopes instruments per specifications and manufacturer recommendations.
• Assembles instruments, complex instrument sets, and other surgical items and kits by selecting the appropriate items, trays, instruments, and arranging them in the correct manner permitting effective sterilization using existing standard operating procedures and surgical case count sheets.
• Processes complicated procedural sets such as the ear tray, vascular tray, orthopedic specialty, cataract, and lap-cholecystectomy sets and other sets containing very specific and complex instrumentation.
• Inspects instruments for proper functioning, scissors for sharpness, box locks for tightness, towel clamps and hemostats for proper functioning jaws, rough edges on ring handles, jaws, ratchets, and shanks (burrs or nicks).
• Ensures that all broken instruments are repaired and all dull instruments are sharpened properly in a timely fashion prior to submitting trays or instrument sets for sterilization.
• Produces an aesthetically organized, compact, logically arranged package, which is within the proper weight limits and is appropriate for assured sterilization. Inspects and selects the appropriate wrapping materials and sterilization packaging.
• Sterilizes equipment in accordance with department, manufacturer, and OSHA standards using different agents, which may include steam, hydrogen peroxide, paracetic acid, ethylene oxide, and glutaraldehyde.
• Selects the correct sterilizing method (steam, gas plasma, peracetic acid) according to the materials being processed and written manufacturer instructions.
• Identifies items to be processed with a gaseous sterilant and adjusts temperature and timing mechanisms in a manner that would allow circulation and permeation by sterilizing medium; selects and prepares packaging materials for the sterilization of reusable instrumentation.

Requirements

• One year of related work experience that demonstrates attainment of the requisite job knowledge, skills, and abilities, preferably in an operating room, acute care hospital, or central services department.
• Certification as one of the following within 6 months:
  • Certified and Registered Central Service Technician, or
  • Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician, or
  • Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduation from the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management Course, upon hire.

About the Organization

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has a rich history of providing exceptional healthcare, dating back to 1891. Building upon a legacy of compassionate care and innovation, our organization has evolved over the years through strategic partnerships and integrations to expand our reach and services across the Puget Sound area. Today, we remain deeply committed to healing the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – in the communities we serve.

Our dedicated providers offer a full spectrum of health care services, from routine wellness to complex disease management, all grounded in rigorous research and education. Our comprehensive network of 10 hospitals and nearly 300 care sites strategically located across the greater Puget Sound region reflects our ongoing commitment to accessibility and comprehensive care. We are proud of our pioneering medical advances and numerous awards and accreditations that reflect our dedication to excellence.

Pay

$26.05 - $43.96 per hour