Sterile Processing Technician

About the role

The Sterile Processing Technician provides a key service to Wellstar to ensure equipment consistently meets the highest quality and safety standards. The individual in this role must be skilled in following protocols with a high level of attention to detail. This position receives and processes incoming supplies and equipment including performing cleaning and sterilizing duties. He/she is responsible for handling, properly processing and storing crucial medical instruments. He/she is responsible for sterilizer equipment monitoring for adherence to performance specifications, including inspection and documentation. He/she prepares packs of supplies, linens, and instruments in Central Sterile Supply or Materials Management as directed.

Core responsibilities

• Prioritizes workload according to the needs of the operating room and hospital units
• Collects dirty instruments and equipment from departments throughout the hospital
• Receives dirty instruments and scans bar code and equipment from the operating room
• Disassembles and inspects instruments and selects appropriate cleaning tools and detergents to manually decontaminate instruments and equipment
• Restocks surgical implantables as appropriate
• Operates washer-decontaminator, cart washer, and ultrasonic cleaner to mechanically decontaminate instruments and equipment
• Inspects surgical instruments and medical equipment and detects need for repair or replacement and inspects for cleanliness, assembles, wraps or containerizes instruments and equipment
• Unloads washer and scans bar codes on surgical trays
• Inspects instruments and equipment to ensure in proper working order and for cleanliness
• Scans bar code to select appropriate count sheet for tray and ensures each instrument is accounted for
• Selects appropriate chemical indicator for inside and outside of package based on mode of sterilization
• Selects appropriate wrapping method or container
• Assesses problems with trays and contacts O.R. resource staff and supply coordinator as needed for resolution
• Avails him/herself to Operating Room to locate trays and to facilitate turnover of surgical trays
• Communicates with Operating room staff and core techs in prioritizing work load according to the needs of the operating room schedule
• Appropriately selects mode of sterilization for instruments and equipment
• Scans barcode on each tray
• Loads and unloads sterilizer and documents accordingly
• Selects biological indicator test pack if necessary for implantables on load
• Operates steam, gas plasma and peracetic acid sterilizers
• Appropriately handles, scans bar code and stores sterilized items in predetermined locations for future use
• Inspects sterilizer before use by checking for proper operating order by checking power supply, emptying drains, cleaning, and adding register tape as needed
• Notifies Biomedical department in the event of sterilizer or equipment malfunction and notifies CS/SPD and OR manager
• Performs daily biological and diagnostic tests and documents appropriately, factually and legibly
• Activates Recall procedure in the event of positive biological indicator
• Selects appropriate chemical indicators internally and externally according to mode of sterilization and documents results
• Operates, maintains and troubleshoots 3M auto reader equipment to incubate biological indicators
• Follows established policies and procedures for Blood Born Pathogens and Standard Precautions to identify and reduce the risks of infections among patients, employees, etc.
• Handles all department, patient and hospital information in a confidential manner
• Makes suggestions for improvement, accepts constructive feedback, assists and accepts assistance from staff members
• Documents accurately and legibly
• Maintains a safe, functional and effective environment for patients, staff and other individuals
• Promotes through action an environment for an interdisciplinary team approach to achieve the mission/goals of the hospital
• Makes decisions that reflect knowledge of facts and demonstrates good judgment when functioning as a team member of team leader
• Serves as expert resource to the department and participates in orienting and training new staff and perioperative students
• In partnership with Sterile Processing Educators, facilitates department educational programs, inservice meetings and attends meetings as required
• Maintains the cleanliness of work areas as required
• Maintains adequate supplies for inventory control and communicates daily to supply coordinator
• Actively participates in performance improvement activities of the department
• Facilitates intra-operative problem solving related to sterile processing
• Scans bar code and delivers sterile supplies, instruments and instrument trays to units throughout the hospital
• Scans bar codes and delivers equipment such as hyperthermia units, difficult urinary cart, isolation carts, portable suction units, central line carts, thoracotomy carts and emergency carts throughout the hospital
• Responds to phone calls from departments for urgent need for instruments, trays, or equipment
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct

Requirements

• High School Diploma / GED or Accredited Program (Required)
• Other / Related Field (Preferred)
• Minimum 1 year sterile processing experience in a healthcare environment (Required)
• Graduate of an accredited sterile processing/central service curriculum (Required)
• CRCST - Cert Reg Central Service Tech OR CRCST-P - Certified Central Service Tech Provisional (1 year) within 1 Year OR CSPDT - Cert Sterile Proc & Dist Tech OR CSPDT-P - Cert Sterile Proc & Dist Tech - Provisional (1 Year) within 1 Year (All certifications required upon hire unless otherwise stated)

Skills

• Must be able to retain knowledge of identification and necessary handling requirements of surgical instruments, medical supplies and equipment
• Must be able to understand, speak, and write English fluently to communicate with the nursing, technical and medical staff
• Basic computer skills are required