STERILE PROC TECHNICIAN

Main Function

The Sterile Processing Technician works under the direction of the Sterile Processing Department Supervisor. The Sterile Processing Technician maintains the cleanliness and integrity of instrumentation and supplies required for use in the operating room. The Sterile Processing Technician collaborates with the operating room staff to ensure the availability and sterility of instrumentation to meet the requirements of posted surgical cases.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Philosophy

1. Supports the facility’s ideology, mission, goals, and objectives
2. Performs in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures
3. Follows the facility’s standards for ethical business conduct
4. Conducts self as a positive role model and team member
5. Recognizes patients’ rights and responsibilities and supports them in performance of job duties

2. General

1. Participates in facility committees, meetings, in-services, and activities
2. Punctual and comply with attendance guidelines
3. Gets along well with all employees and respects the rights of other employees
4. Demonstrates resourcefulness, independent thinking and seeks additional challenges and opportunities. Seeks to create new methods, techniques and processes.

3. Communication

1. Communicates effectively and professionally with vendors, physicians, coworkers, patients and visitors
2. Interacts with others in a positive, professional, respectful, and considerate manner

4. Financial practices

1. Uses facility resources appropriately and avoids wasteful practices
2. Reports wasteful practices
3. Analyzes work area and makes recommendations for potential cost-effective improvements

5. Compliance program

1. Assists in the implementation and maintenance of the organization’s adopted compliance program
2. Performs according to established compliance policies and procedures

6. Performance-improvement program

1. Contributes to the progress and development of the organization's adopted performance-improvement program, policies, and procedures
2. Performs according to established performance-improvement policies and procedures

7. Safety/risk-management program

1. Adheres to safety policies and procedures in performing job duties and responsibilities
2. Reports observed or suspected safety violations, hazards, and policy/procedure noncompliance to the safety officer or other designated person
3. Complete annual education requirements

8. Professional competence

1. Participates in continuing education and other learning experiences
2. Shares knowledge gained in continuing education with staff
3. Maintains membership in relevant professional organizations
4. Seeks new learning experiences by accepting challenging opportunities and responsibilities
5. Welcomes suggestions and recommendations

9. Regulatory

1. Remains current on all applicable state and federal laws, rules, regulations, professional standards and accreditation standards
2. Submits required reports on a timely basis
3. Develops, interprets and recommends implementation of policies, procedures, regulations, programs and recommended practices to ensure requirements are met

10. Duties

1. Under the direction of the Sterile Processing Department Supervisor, properly sterilizes and prepares surgical instruments for all cases at the scheduled surgery times
2. Operates sterilizers and ability to complete daily check which includes: recording temperature, pressure and recording time of test loads
3. Updates surgical instrument tray lists
4. Initiates repairs on surgical instruments, as needed
5. Practices Infection Control and Universal Precautions, as per policy
6. Restocks work stations at and of work day
7. Maintains all sterilization logs
8. Chamber Drain Line Strainer
9. Door Gasket checks
10. Recording Ink supply
11. Checks and respond to emails in a timely and efficient manner
12. Starting a new recording chart

Qualifications

1. Cooperative work attitude toward co-employees, management, patients, visitors, and physicians
2. Ability to promote favorable facility image with physicians, patients, insurance companies, and general public
3. Ability to make decisions and solve problems

Requirements

Required

1. High school diploma or GED certificate recipient
2. At least two years experience as a Sterile Processing Technician in ASC or acute care-setting
3. Must maintain Sterile Processing Technician certification
4. Must have BLS certification.
5. Must have sufficient reading ability to read safety instructions and chemical product labels.
6. Must be able to follow written and oral instructions

Preferred

ASC experience