Sterile Processing Technician

Summary

Under general guidance and direction of the SPD Supervisor and management team The SPD Technician performs all core responsibilities and duties in the Sterile Processing Department and is Certified as a Sterile Processing Tech. Core duties including receiving sorting and decontamination of surgical/clinic/loaner items and instrumentation inspection assembly HLD sterilization storage case cart and transport.

Responsibilities

Consistently applies the corporate values of respect honesty and fairness and the constant pursuit of excellence in improving the health status of the people of the region through the provision of customer-friendly geographically accessible and high-value services within the environment of a comprehensive integrated academic health system. SPD Techs are responsible for knowing and acting in accordance with the principles of the Brown University Health Corporate Compliance Program and Code of Conduct.

Must be able to perform all duties in accordance with Brown University Health Policies and Procedures manufacturers� Instructions for Use (IFUs) regulatory and national standards. Must be always certified by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) as a CRCST or by the Certification Board of Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) as a CBSPDT during employment.

Core Responsibilities

Decontamination and Cleaning of Reusable Medical Devices

• Sets up and cleans work area at the beginning end & as needed each shift per procedure and infection control standards.
• Maintains clean and organized work area.
• Follows Infection Control Practices and utilizes approved PPE per policy.
• Receives soiled used and/or contaminated equipment surgical instruments scopes and supplies from Operating Rooms patient care units and specialized areas. Documents per department procedures.
• Disassembles items as needed before choosing appropriate cleaning method.
• Identifies items in need of repair upon receipt and ensures information is maintained during cleaning process by tagging items appropriately if not already tagged by user department.
• Selects and utilizes appropriate manual cleaning tools to achieve instrument decontamination including but not limited to instrument brushes enzymatic detergent neutral detergent flushing devices ultrasonic bath leak tester.
• Selects and utilizes appropriate automated cleaning tools to achieve instrument decontamination. Operates equipment per IFUs; this includes loading and selecting appropriate cycles cleaning inspection for automated washers cart washers sonics Automatic Endoscopic Reprocessors AERs) and all equipment used in area to process instrumentation.
• Properly loads and unloads instrument washers cart washers sonics AER etc. accorsing to IFU and standards.
  
  

Assembly and Packaging

• Sets up and cleans work area at the beginning end & as needed each shift per procedure and infection control standards.
• Maintains clean and organized work area.
• Documents tray assembly utilizing instrument tracking software.
• Inspects and assembles all equipment instruments scopes and instrument sets following product recipe verifies items are functional free of debris and required per IFU.
• Documents items missing from instrument set after thorough search escalating set to SPD Supervisor or Coordinator.
• Identifies and places appropriate internal indicator as required per IFU.
• Selects appropriate packaging method including any sterilization accessories (corner protectors etc.); ensures all external indicators and/or labels are securely affixed to item.
  
  

Sterilization and High-Level Disinfection of Reusable Medical Devices

• Sets up and cleans work area at the beginning end & as needed each shift per procedure and infection control standards.
• Maintains clean and organized work area.
• Follows preventative maintenance according to manufacturer�s instructions fo use for specific equipment.
• Follow manufacturer�s Instruction for Use (IFU) to select appropriate disinfection/sterilization method and approved cycle type/time.
• Inspects packages to ensure all external indicators filters and/or labels are securely affixed to items returns non satisfactory products to assembly.
• Loads sterilizer as appropriate to ensure cycle completion and following proper loading techniques according to IFU.
• Performs routine sterilizer testing including biological monitoring leak test and bowie dick test as appropriate.
• Following established policies and standards interprets and appropriately documents result of sterilizer testing cycles and issues. Escalates issues for example positive BI results or malfunctioning equipment as appropriate for intervention.
• Removes and inspects items from sterilizer utilizing approved methods to preserve package integrity.
• Following established procedures selects appropriate High-Level Disinfection method has basic knowledge of AER units used in the department and can perform diagnostic tests.
• Performs flexible scope cleaning.
• Utilizes approved PPE as appropriate.
  
  

Inventory Management and Case Cart Build

• Sets up and cleans work area at the beginning end & as needed each shift per procedure and infection control standards.
• Maintains clean and organized work area.
• Utilizes patient specific pick lists to accurately gather surgical instruments and disposable supplies requested by attending surgeon or another Peri-Operative representative per preference card.
• Inspects items during the pick process to ensure package integrity remains intact package is within expiration date and substitutions are appropriate.
• Communicates unmet surgical supply requests to Coordinator for resolution assistance.
• Modifies picking order as directed by EMR based on changing OR Surgical Schedule.
• Answers calls for service requests from the OR and procedural areas
  
  

Equipment PM

• Maintains equipment through routine maintenance as required per IFU and regulatory standards. For example:
• Sterilizer strainer check and cleaning Sterilizer door gasket check for integrity Printers roll and ink check.
• Washer arm debris check and flushing Cart and instrument washer strainer check Instrument and cart washer weekly descaling.
• Sterilizer weekly cleaning per IFU
• Etc.
• Routine maintenance of SPD equipment is an important part of infection prevention and is a strategy that must be kept up with to keep our patients safe.
  
  

Other duties related to their jobs as assigned.

Other Information

BASIC KNOWLEDGE:

• High School Graduate or equivalent with the ability to read write and speak fluent English.
• Must have Sterile Processing Certification as a CRCST or CBSPDT at time of hire or within the year of being hired.
• One year experience minimum in sterile processing and its core functions
• Must have successfully completed a sterile processing education program in lieu of a year of experience or certification.
• Ability to operate a personal computer is required to access and input information to prepare and maintain records.
• Ability to identify a wide variety of surgical instruments and equipment in order to select appropriate items for case carts and instrument sets etc.
• Ability to operate automatic washers and sterilization equipment according to equipment operating instructions.
• Organizational and numerical ability to receive count and store materials and to prepare and maintain case carts etc.
  
  

Experience

Requires at least one-year previous Sterile Processing work experience; ability to demonstrate competency in care & handling of surgical instrumentation decontamination sterilization & basic inventory storage and control. Certified SPD Technician by either CBSPD or HSPA or have successfully completed a sterile processing education program.

Work Environment And Physical Requirements

• Visual and manual dexterity to operate automatic washers and sterilization equipment according to equipment operating instructions.
• Physical ability to stand for long periods of time to lift and carry moderately heavy surgical trays up to 25lbs to push/pull carts (up to 100lbs) into sterilization unit and to receive and store supplies materials and equipment.
• General hospital environment with normal conditions associated with patient care.
  
  

Independent Action

Follow policies and procedures referring complex situations to supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibility

None.

Brown University Health is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin age ethnicity sexual orientation ancestry genetics gender identity or expression disability protected veteran or marital status. Brown University Health is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Location: Rhode Island Hospital USA:RI:Providence

Work Type: Full Time

Shift: Shift 3

Union: IBT