Coordinator, Sterile Processing

Primary Purpose: The role of the Sterile Processing Coordinator is to ensure that quality care is followed per policy and procedure in the Sterile Processing Department. Supervises and directs the functions of the Sterile Processing Technicians and assist in training of new employees. Assist with stocking all supplies and maintaining PAR levels. Quality performance and maintenance logs for all biological and chemical monitoring of various types of sterilizers to include steam and Sterrad. Leads the team and works alongside central processing technicians in performance of all duties related to sterilization records; insuring hospital policies and procedures and TJC standards are met; the set-up, delivery, pick-up , decontamination and maintenance of medical equipment, procedural trays and carts; sterilization of supplies and instruments. Is responsible for the cost-effective inventory control and standardization of designated inventories for the facility. Responsible for securing appropriate repairs on needed equipment. Assist with proper instrumentation is available for daily cases. Ability to supervise staff to be flexible and responsive to rapid instrumentation turnovers for cases during the day.

Formal Policy-Setting Responsibilities: Formally responsible for providing input into policies associated with the job's purpose and essential responsibilities. Complete assigned responsibilities within established hospital, unit specific guidelines, policies and procedures, standards, protocols, etc.

Routine Decision Making: Determines causes of operating errors and decides what to do about it. Must be able to examine and detect imperfections in instruments and malfunctions with sterilization equipment. Must be able to use relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations or standards. Must be able to prioritize instrument sterilization with surgerys daily cases.

Formal Supervisory Responsibility: Supervises work performed in department. Provides feedback to ensure quality standards are met.

Required Knowledge: Previous surgical instrumentation/equipment decontamination and sterilization with familiarity of various instrument sterilization methods required.

Required Skills and Ability: Must possess excellent customer service skills, attention to detail, initiative and ability to take independent action, excellent planning skills, and be capable of establishing and maintaining outstanding working relationships. Able to work in conjunction with the OR staff to provide timely sterile products and maintain consistency and continuous workflow between the OR and Sterile Processing Department while practicing excellent customer service. Follows established policies, procedures, objectives, performance improvement, attendance, safety, environmental and infection control guidelines. Practices a high level of integrity and honesty in maintaining confidentiality.

Unusual Working Conditions: Working with sharp surgical equipment; risk of blood and/or body fluid contamination.

Education and Certification/ Registration Required for the Position: High school diploma or equivalent required. 2 years of sterile processing or operating room technician experience preferred. Certified Surgical Tech (NCCT) or Certified Registered Central Service Technical (CRCST) or Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) or equivalent. Certified Sterile Processing Tech required within 12 months through Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) or Certified Reg Central Service Tech through International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management IAHCSMM within 12 months or Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) within 12 months of hire.

PART TWO: Essential Responsibilities and Tasks

A. Receive and Decontaminates instruments, per manufacturers instructions and departmental policies and procedures. (30% of time)

1. Wears appropriate personal protective equipment at all times while on duty.

2. Retrieves contaminated supplies and delivers sterile supplies to where needed

3. Handles instruments carefully preventing damage to delicate instruments.

4. Undertakes manual and mechanical cleaning of instruments to remove contaminants according to manufacturers guidelines and established policies and procedures.

5. Applies a detail orientation in the examination of instruments and equipment to ensure they are clean and identifies broken or damaged instruments prior to sterilization and removes from service. Reports to Surgery Manager/Director for repair or replacement in a timely manner.

B. Prepares and assembles instruments per method of sterilization. (40% of time)

1. Monitor surgery schedules daily, identifying general, specific and potential instrument needs for all cases.

2. Performs appropriate cleaning of all sterilization instruments and equipment.

3. Selects and uses appropriate packaging and wrapping materials and container systems for method of sterilization and aseptic presentation.

4. Ensures filters are properly installed in container systems prior to sterilization at all times.

5. Labels, sterilized items and container systems to be sterilized with proper sterilization information and initials of preparer at all times.

6. Sets correct cycle parameters and utilizes correct process indicators per steam or chemical sterilization.

7. Loads, operates all equipment according to manufacturers instructions at all times.

8. Performs correct biological monitoring and testing per method of sterilization.

9. Recognizes positive and negative test results of biological monitoring. Communicates failed monitoring in a timely manner to department and Surgery Manager/Director.

10. Unloads and distributes sterilized instruments, daily.

C. Operates and maintains Steris Equipment; keep records of loads completed, items of loads and maintenance procedures. (10% of time)

1. Observes gauges and equipment operation to detect malfunctions with every load.

2. Requests service for a defective sterilizer or washer equipment and report to Surgery Manager/Director. Report to Surgery Manager/Director if there will be a delay in sterile surgical instruments.

3. Monitor and maintain appropriate records to remain compliant with applicable regulatory agencies, as well as reporting if needed.

4. Inspects and cleans sterilizers on a routine basis. Ensures to remove all waste matter from equipment and carts

D. Ensures department policies and procedures are followed. (20% of time)

1. Maintains accurate monitoring records.

2. Uses and interprets chemical and biological indicators.

3. Participates in performance improvement activities. Attend in-service vendor instrument presentations for proper sterilization guidelines.

4. Undertakes continuous education and trains in all areas of sterile processing, including decontamination, cleaning, assembly, wrapping, sterilization, and storage processes within all set professional standards and regulations

5. Performs other Central Services or Surgical duties as assigned by Surgery Manager/Director.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

TYPE OF WORK (Check One)

Sedentary Work: Lifting 10# maximum and occasionally lifting and/or carrying such articles as dockets, ledgers and small tools. Jobs are sedentary; if walking and standing are required only occasionally.

Light Work: Lifting 20# maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10#. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job is in this category when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree or pushing and pulling of arm and/or leg controls.

x Medium Work: Lifting 100# maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25#.

Heavy Work: Lifting 100# maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 50#.

Very Heavy Lifting: Lifting objects in excess of 100# with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing 50# or more.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS (Check those which apply)

x Lifting: Raising or lowering an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling).

x Carrying: Transporting an object, usually holding it in hands or arms or on the shoulders

x Pushing: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force (including slapping, striking, kicking, and treadle actions).

x Pulling: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking).

x Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, ropes, and the like, using the feet and the legs and/or hands and arms.

x Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching, or running on a narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces; or maintain body equilibrium when performing gymnastic feats.

x Hearing: Ability to determine audible communication.

x Stooping: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist.

x Kneeling: Bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on the knee or knees.

x Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine.

x Crawling: Moving about on the hands and knees or hands and feet.

x Reaching: Extending the hands and arms in any direction.

x Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand or hands (fingering not involved).

x Fingering: Picking, pinching, or otherwise working with the fingers primarily (rather than with the whole hand or arms as in handling).

x Repetitive Motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.

x Feeling: Perceiving such attributes of objects and materials as size, shape, temperature, or texture by means of receptors in the skin, particularly those of the finger tips.

x Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

x Seeing: Obtaining impressions through the eyes of the shape, size, distance, motion, color or other characteristics of objects.

Including Major Visual Functions

x Acuity, far - clarity of vision at 20 feet or more.

x Acuity, near - clarity of vision at 20 inches or less.

Depth perception - ability to judge distance and space relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are.

Field of vision - area seen up and down or to the right or left while eyes are fixed.

x Accommodations - adjustment of the lens of the eye to bring an object into sharp focus.

x Color vision- the ability to identify and distinguish colors.

WORKING CONDITIONS (Check those which apply)

x Inside: Worker spends approximately 75% or more of time inside.

Outside: Worker spends approximately 75% or more time outside.

In/Outside: Activities occur inside or outside in approximately equal amounts.

Extremes of Cold: Temperature sufficiently low to cause marked bodily discomfort unless worker is provided with exceptional protection.

Extremes of Heat: Temperature sufficiently high to cause marked bodily discomfort unless worker is provided with exceptional protection.

Temperature Changes: Variations in temperature which are sufficiently marked and abrupt to cause noticeable bodily reactions.

x Wet: Contact with water or other liquids.

x Humid: Atmospheric condition with moisture content sufficiently high to cause marked bodily discomfort.

Noise and Vibration: Sufficient noise, either constant or intermittent to cause marked distraction or possible injury to the sense of hearing and /or sufficient vibration (production of an oscillating movement or strain on the body or its extremities from repeated motion or shock) to cause bodily harm if endured day after day.

x Hazards: Situations in which the individual is exposed to the definite risk of the bodily injury.

Fumes: Smoky or vaporous exhalations, usually odorous, thrown off as the result of combustion or chemical reaction.

Odor: Noxious smells, either toxic dust, fumes, gases, vapors, mists or liquids which cause general or localized disabling conditions as a result of inhalation or action to the skin.

Toxic Conditions: Exposure to toxic dust, fumes, gases, vapors. Mists or liquids which cause general or localized disabling conditions as a result of inhalations or action to the skin.

x Infectious Disease: Risk of exposure to biohazardous materials, blood, body fluid contamination.

Dust: Air filled with small particles of any kind, such as textiles dust, flour, wool, leather, feathers, etc., and inorganic dust including silica and asbestos, which make the workplace unpleasant or are the source of occupational disease.

Poor Ventilation: Insufficient movement of air causing a feeling of suffocation; or exposure to drafts.

Identify and describe any additional physical demands or unusual working conditions that were not previously covered. _______________________________________________________

High school diploma or equivalent required. 2 years of sterile processing or operating room technician experience preferred. Certified Surgical Tech (NCCT) or Certified Registered Central Service Technical (CRCST) or Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) or equivalent. Certified Sterile Processing Tech required within 12 months through Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) or Certified Reg Central Service Tech through International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management IAHCSMM within 12 months or Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) within 12 months of hire.