Supervisor, Central Sterile, Full-Time

Central Sterile Supervisor

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Director of Surgical Services, the Sterile Processing Department Supervisor has direct responsibility for maintaining daily departmental workflows including decontamination, prep and pack, sterilization, endoscopy, inventory management and case pick functions. This position oversees and directs the daily technical activities of all departmental employees supporting the reprocessing of medical and surgical equipment; ensuring items are assembled in accordance with established policies and procedures. Responsible for ensuring patient safety through active management of infection control processes, sterility assurance, and equipment/instrumentation availability, each in a timely and efficient manner.

PRE-REQUISITES:

Education: High school diploma or GED required. Associates Degree preferred.

Experience: Minimum 5 Years Central Sterile Processing

Special Skills: AHCSMM certifications as CRCST, CIS and CHL or equivalents required. This position requires specialized knowledge in all aspects of CSR’s operations and services.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Reports To: Director Surgical Services

Supervises: Central Sterile Employees

Other Contacts: NMC Team Members and contractors

SCOPE:

Machinery or Equipment Used: Supply carts, sterilizers, autoclaves, centrifuge, ultra-sonic cleaner, steam water distiller, heat sealer, washer sterilizer and scope cleaner.

Physical Demands: Prolonged standing/walker with minimal sitting for inserting photos into the computer system, logging information into appropriate books. Use of both hands to clean, sterilize, wrap, label and store equipment. May sit briefly when doing surgical set ups, following color coded diagram. Sustained stooping is required for endoscopic cleaning. Occasional: squatting, bending/stooping, crouching, and overheard reaching when putting equipment and instrumentation away and pulling cases. Balancing required when reaching overhead, when wearing booties due to floor surface and with exposure to occasional wetness on the floors. Exposed to occasional awkward body positions when cleaning rooms. Handling of equipment weighing 20-40 lbs. Book Walter retractor (40 lbs) located at 36 and 41 inches on storage racks, spider foot piece (30 lbs) must be lifted from the floor and is awkward to handle . Frequent pushing/pulling to move furniture when cleaning rooms, move carts including autoclave headers (hand height 42-43 inches) and to pass/retrieve equipment and instrumentation between the decontamination room and the sterile supply room. Handling if equipment weighing up to 20 lbs. Reaching is required for both hands when re-stocking rooms, putting sterilized equipment/instrumentation away and pulling cases for the next day. Heights of reach vary from waist level (work table 36 inches) to 10 inches off the floor for the bottom shelf on storage racks to 67 inches at the highest shelf. Pinching and light gripping are necessary to wrap sterile instrumentation/equipment.

Working Conditions: Climate controlled at 60 degrees F. Frequent exposure to blood borne pathogens and infectious materials. Occasional slippery floor conditions. Moderate noise level when autoclave and washer are running simultaneously. Slight potential for exposure to ethylene oxide during autoclaving instruments/equipment that cannot be steamed. Also exposed to peroxyacetic acid 35% (Steris 20), glutaraldehyde and bleach.

Required Protective Equipment: PPE indicated during decontamination and sterilization procedures. Sterile environment must be maintained. Full face shield with mask when indicated, gloves, hair nets, booties, uniform, bear net (for med), thermal gloves for handling autoclave header when taking hot, sterile objects from autoclave.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Demonstrates knowledge and proficiency in all functions and tasks of the Central Sterile Processing Department

• Demonstrates knowledge of processes by actively performing daily departmental functions when necessary

2. Ensures compliance with work instructions, regulatory requirements, national standards and established Sterile Processing policies and procedures across all functions

• Ensures processing equipment is accurately maintained and in good working order
• Continually reassesses production capacity and adjusts as needed
• Keep abreast of all pertinent federal, state and NSMC regulations, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified
• Oversees and assures daily quality assurance monitoring systems (i.e., biological test reading)
• Maintains proper documentation in accordance with the regulatory agencies and departmental protocols

3. Monitors quality of products produced; recommends and initiates workflow changes to achieve optimal results

• Responsibility for maintaining daily departmental workflows including decontamination, prep and pack, sterilization, endoscopy processing, inventory management and case pick functions
• Ensures daily instrument needs are prioritized and processed to meet surgical demand; alerts Peri-Op leadership if delays are expected
• Monitors the accurate and timely assembly and distribution of surgical case carts
• Implements inventory control practices to facilitate stock rotation and removal of expired/damaged items from inventory
• Participates in consolidation and standardization of supplies and equipment for the department

4. Provides direct supervision and support to all employees within the department

• Ensure that their staff are trained and evaluated on their knowledge of and adherence to compliance policies and procedures specific to their jobs
• Develop training and staff development programs as needed
• Develop department in-service as appropriate
• Articulates a clear vision for areas of direct responsibility
• Oversees and directs the daily technical activities of all departmental employees supporting the reprocessing of medical and surgical equipment; ensuring items are assembled in accordance with established policies and procedures
• Effectively prioritizes workload; appropriately delegates work when appropriately
• Responsible for creating and maintaining staff scheduling, and daily staffing assignments
• Examines and assesses staff performance related to quality and quantity of items produced
• Documents disciplinary issues, initiates resolutions and /or issues corrective action

5. Ensuring patient safety through active management of infection control processes, sterility assurance, and equipment/instrumentation availability, each in a timely and efficient manner

• Initiates service call for all vendors as needed
• Collaborates with the Peri-Operative team to ensure products are available for use
• Develops communication plan for all relevant information regarding supplies and instrumentation to key stake holders, including but not limited to: set availability, repairs, product and supply ordering, machine failure etc.

6. Completes projects and initiatives as assigned.

7. Effectively Manages Change

• Provides an active support mechanism during times of change including but not limited to reaffirming goals/values, considering concerns as they arise, and an open door policy
• Detects and resolves team/individual isolation and other breakdowns resulting from change
• Communicates excessively to quell rumors and work through barriers to change
• Remains flexible and responsive to new information during change

8. Manages and Improves Processes

• Analyzes service and quality metrics to identify areas where corrective action can be taken within the department.
• Questions the status quo to seek more efficient ways to accomplish department functions
• Seeks out industry benchmarks and stays aware of emerging technology and best practices to exceed quality standards
• Actively seeks opportunities to improve own leadership skills through education and job shadowing.

9. Understands the Financial Impact of their Department

• Proficient in interpreting the meaning of various organizational financial reports and able to communicate this meaning appropriately with staff
• Demonstrates an understanding of the components of productivity and expense management that pertain to their department
• Proactively identifies opportunities for market share enhancements, expense reductions, and outcome improvements
• Exhibits ability to assess the risks, effort, benefits, impact, results, and costs involved in any proposed new course of action or current activity

10. Builds Effective Networks

• Demonstrates a willingness to create win-win situations with other departments
• Seeks and is open to others’ viewpoints
• Establishes rapport with other NMC connections without motive
• Rounds on important internal customers with regularity

11. Drives Operational and Service Excellence

• Sets and communicates clear, legitimate standards of performance with credible metrics
• Prioritizes the department’s activities to achieve long and short term organizational goals; clearly communicating goals so employees understand what they are working toward achieving
• Committed to NMC Service Standards; holding self, team, and colleagues accountable for AIDET and other must-haves
• Willing to reorganize roles and responsibilities to align with strategy, including cross training when appropriate and allowed

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