Steriliizaton Technician

Responsibilities

• Serves as primary medical supply technicians in Central Material Services (CMS).
• Performs the full range of duties to process, decontaminate, prepare, and distribute medical supplies and equipment used in all areas of the hospital.
• Examines items and sets to be cleaned for completeness, damage, deterioration or imperfections, cracks, or pitting.
• Sorts all items and equipment processed by medical supply units, including instruments, needles, metal ware, and glassware according to cleaning procedure.
• Cleans items manually or by washer, sterilizes and ultra-sonic units.
• Cleans medical equipment and all accessories such as tubing, mattresses, and bottles.
• Operates equipment to determine proper functioning and makes adjustments as needed.
• Reports malfunctions and need for repair including complex instructions for use (IFUs) on over 1700 instrument sets.
• Transfers information into an automated computer-based system for tracking and auditing.
• Disassembles and reassembles equipment and complex instrumentation for proper decontamination and use.
• This complex instrumentation requires the ability to troubleshoot all equipment, to include sets and devices used for processing, such as washer-sterilizers and ultrasonic cleaners.
• Sets up different trays and sets for treatments, diagnostic care, and the full range of surgical operations using appropriate chemical indicator strips.
• Suggests substitutes for unavailable items.
• Packages a variety of other supply items such as gauze, needles, and scissors using established packaging procedures.
• Packages individual surgical case carts with required surgical instrumentation for each scheduled and emergent operative procedures.
• Coordinates the resolution of recurring problems in the Operating Room such as special requests as needed.
• Determines correct method of sterilization for all items and encloses applicable strip of chemical indicator tape on package.
• Inventories, orders, pulls outdate and picks up dirty instruments.
• Inventories and restocks unsterile supply shelves to established levels.
• Performs insulation testing, channel checks for residual bioburden, leak testing and water quality testing.
• Packages linen packs and basin sets for operating room, labor and delivery room, same day surgery and specialty clinics.
• Determines correct method of folding a variety of linen supplies to minimize contamination.
• Inspects linen for soiled or worn areas, tears, and holes.
• Determines proper sterilization procedures for different types of items.
• Loads items and control tests on sterilization carriers, ensuring proper placement for thorough sterilization.
• Operates sterilizers and monitors equipment and control tests to determine whether sterilization was complete.
• Records and labels each sterilized item, and places in protective cover.
• Enters information into computer program system that effectively tracks sterilization methods and cycles.
• Trains new employees, students and OR nursing staff on Censitrac Instrument Tracking System.
• Fills requests for items from wards and clinics based on daily requirements.
• Accommodates physicians'/technicians' requests for variations, additional items, and special trays.
• Records all issues.
• Accesses computer data base information to produce pick-tickets and preference cards for the case cart system in the Operating Room (OR) and Labor & Delivery (L&D).
• Restocks crash carts used in cardiac resuscitation, ensuring proper and complete items.
• Suggests and provides substitute items when necessary.
• Distributes and maintains crash carts, oversees inventory and exchanges.

Qualifications

• You must have 1-year of experience and possess all certifications required to perform the duties listed above.