Sterile Processing Technician

The Instrument Technician is responsible for the care and preparation of surgical instruments and supplies. The technician maintains established inventory levels by checking supplies and equipment. Orders supplies for the area. The technician performs the appropriate testing of all sterilizers and keeps accurate records.

Philosophy

• Supports the facility’s ideology, mission, goals, and objectives
• Performs in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures
• Follows the facility’s standards for ethical business conduct
• Recognizes patients’ rights and responsibilities and supports them in performance of job duties
• Participates in facility committees, meetings, in-services, and activities

- Shares input regarding short- and long-term goals of the facility

Work Quality

• Performs duties in an accurate and organized manner
• Adheres to policies and procedures in performance of duties
• Ensures knowledge of job and asks questions when unsure
• Completes duties within appropriate timeframes

Personal Attributes

• Shows initiative and dependability including punctuality and attendance
• Displays good judgment
• Cooperates and is flexible
• Follows appropriate dress code presenting a professional image

Customer Service

• Fosters a culture of outstanding patient service showing courtesy in interactions with patients, physicians and co-workers
• Presents good telephone skills
• Responds promptly to patient needs and co-worker requests

Communication and Teamwork

• Expected to be a positive and responsible team member with a good attitude
• Presents good oral and written communication (documentation) skills
• Promotes effective communication among the facility’s clinical areas, business office, and physician practices
• Professional Competence
• Participates in continuing education and other learning experiences
• Shares knowledge gained in continuing education with staff
• Seeks new learning experiences by accepting challenging opportunities and responsibilities
• Welcomes suggestions and recommendations
• Maintains current CPR certification
• Safety/Risk Management
• Adheres to safety policies and procedures in performing job duties and responsibilities
• Reports observed or suspected safety violations, hazards, and policy/procedure noncompliance to the Clinical Manager
• Performs according to established compliance policies and procedures

Duties

• Support the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
• Follow established protocols for cleaning, decontaminating, preparing and packaging, disinfecting or sterilizing, and storing medical and surgical supplies and equipment.
• Distribute medical and surgical supplies from sterile processing areas to other areas within the facility or health care organization as needed.
• Follow safety procedures and manufacturer’s instructions when handling cleaning solutions, supplies and equipment.
• Operate equipment used in the sterile processing areas safely and according to the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
• Monitor, interpret, and document results of physical, chemical and biological indicators for all types of sterilizers used in the sterile processing areas.
• Inventory, receive, and restock materials used for supporting sterile processing services.
• Comply with organizational policies, regulatory and accreditation standards, and professional guidelines.
• Exhibit professional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Assist with improving the quality of sterile processing services.
• Assist with identifying pertinent evidence to establish benchmarks as directed.
• Maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.
• Demonstrates knowledge related to maintenance, cleanliness, and sterilization of instruments and equipment.
• Demonstrates awareness of appropriate sterilization method required for different instruments in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
• Receives all soiled instrumentation and implements the appropriate decontamination process per manufacturer instructions.
• Practices Standards Precautions and utilizes required Personal Protective Equipment.
• Prepares the Decontamination and Assembly Room with supplies and equipment needed.
• Tests operational efficiency of Instrumentation prior to reprocessing and reports problems to Leadership.
• Wraps trays and individual items according to established departmental protocols. Label each item with name and processing date.
• Monitors all instrumentation for proper sterilization prior to releasing for use.
• Places Sterilized instruments on appropriate shelving and rotates accordingly.
• Prioritizes and organizes instrumentation, equipment and supplies.
• Implements manual cleaning cycle for autoclaves and Steris machines and other sterilizing/disinfecting machines.
• Performs required quality controls e.g. Bowie Dick, DART, Biological Monitoring, Disinfecting Solution Efficacy Testing, Test Strips as indicated.
• Maintains instruments/trays/scopes inventory and associated count sheets.
• Anticipates high priority turn-arounds requests for specialized instrumentation to meet daily volume demands.
• Maintains a clean and orderly central processing area (e.g. shelves, counters, equipment).
• Utilizes supplies and resources in a cost-effective manner.
• Appropriately handles the disposal of biohazardous materials.
• Must possess thorough knowledge of surgical instrumentation.
• Orders, restocks, and maintains essential inventory for departmental efficiency
• Performs departmental environmental maintenance duties ensuring a clean and organized work environment.
• Communicates with Material Management and Departmental Leadership any requests for equipment maintenance, repair or replacement, and removes defective equipment.
• Maintains current knowledge of advances and current trends in Sterile Processing
• Demonstrates attention to detail by ensuring that all documentation is legible, complete, accurate, and factual.

Qualifications

• Cooperative work attitude toward co-employees, management, patients, visitors, and physicians
• Ability to promote favorable facility image with physicians, patients, insurance companies, and the general public
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems in a timely manner.

Required

• High school graduate or GED certificate recipient
• Completion of an accredited Surgical Technologist Program or Certification/Experience in Sterile Processing
• Achieve related certification within 2 years of hire date (CSPDT, CRCST, CIS)
• BLS

Preferred

• One year of sterile processing experience and/or
• Central Supply Processing Department Technician (CSPDT), or Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Certification and/or
• Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) Certification and/or
• Completion of surgical scrub technician program and
• Computer Skills (e.g., Microsoft Office)

Job Quality Requirements

• Accuracy
• Attention to detail
• Timeliness
• Organizational skills
• Efficiency
• Little supervision needed to accomplish tasks
• Physical stamina for extra working hours, if needed

Dependability

• Attendance
• Punctuality
• Ability to follow instructions
• Ability to meet deadlines

Physical/mental requirements

• Physically demanding, high-stress environment
• Exposure to blood and body fluids, sharp instruments and other devices, communicable diseases, chemicals, and repetitive motions.
• Full range of body motion including handling and lifting instrument trays.
• Manual and finger dexterity.
• Hand and eye coordination.
• Sitting, Standing, and walking for extensive periods of time.
• Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50lbs.
• Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range

Working conditions(environmental)

• Well-lit and ventilated, with non-hazardous equipment
• Category I: involves occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious body fluids and materials

Reports to Sterile Processing Manager