Central Service Technician

Independence Health System Careers•Latrobe, PA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Central Service Technician performs a wide array of duties to provide sterile instrumentation and trays to the Department of Surgery and other hospital departments. This role works under the direction of the Sr. Technician for Central Services or Operating Room Management. The position involves decontaminating and inspecting surgical instruments, maintaining equipment, cleaning and decontaminating reusable patient equipment, assembling instrument trays, operating sterilizers, performing biological monitoring, organizing paperwork for reporting, cleaning case carts, and reprocessing scopes. The technician also prepares loaner/consignment instruments, receives and documents items, inspects and decontaminates instruments, assembles instrumentation, sterilizes and delivers to the OR, and delivers additional trays and supplies. Housekeeping functions to keep the area neat and organized are also part of the role, as is retrieving soiled carts/instruments and cleaning sterilizer chambers and carts. Cases are picked, including add-ons, and case supplies and equipment are organized for use by the OR Circulator and Technician. Reprocessing and storing of assigned scopes, including gastroscopes, colonoscopies, bronchoscopes, and other flexible or rigid scopes, is also a key responsibility. The technician must follow the chain of care for communication of issues and perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

High School Diploma, GED or next level of higher education.
Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment.
Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Basic working knowledge of computers and office equipment.
Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) or HealthCare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) certification must be obtained within 18 months of employment.
Act 81 Compliance.
Act 34-PA Criminal Record Check from the PA State Police system.

Nice To Haves

One (1)- three (3) years of Central Service experience.
CRCST and/or a Surgical Technician background.

Responsibilities

Decontaminates and inspects surgical instruments
Wears Protective Attire (PPE)- Standard Precautions
Transports Equipment and Supplies as needed between departments
Maintains equipment as per manufacturers instructions
Visually inspects instruments and trays to determine if pre-soaking is indicated
Uses tongs or forceps to remove instruments from basins
Inserts proper sized brush to clean channels of cannulated instrumentation
Chooses proper decontamination equipment per manufacturers or OneSouce Documents instructions
Arranges instruments, trays, and basins to facilitate proper cleaning
Selects proper cycle per manufacturers or OneSouce Documents instructions
Cleans and decontaminates reusable patient equipment
Cleans all surfaces with approved solution
Inspects electrical cords for fraying or other safety hazards
Ensures component parts are returned with equipment
Removes any damaged equipment requiring safety checks for use
Reassembles equipment and places in proper storage area
Assembles instrument trays
Visually examines instruments for remaining debris
Visually examines instruments for functionality
Arranges instruments to allow sterilant penetration
Ensures instrument tray is complete
Orders instruments as needed
Tapes instruments
Wraps instrument tray or places instruments in proper sterilization container
Uses proper size and type of sterilization wrap
Inserts chemical indicator/integrator in tray
Performs proper wrapping and taping technique
Records pertinent information on autoclavable tape/form
Places paper filter properly in sterilization container
Affixes load sticker to wrapped tray or container
Prepares all rerun instruments for day
Operates sterilizers per department procedure
Loads sterilizer rack in manner to allow sterilant penetration and moisture removal
Records load contents on sterilizer card/form
Places biological indicator in required sterilizer loads
Selects proper cycle per manufacturers or OneSouce Documents instructions
Examines sterilizer printout to ensure mechanical parameters of sterilization are met
Signs full name to sterilizer printout
Allows adequate time for proper cooling of sterilizer contents prior to removal from chamber
Unloads sterilizer contents and places in proper storage area
Performs biological monitoring and recordkeeping of sterilization cycles (steam, eto, sterrad)
Interprets and logs biological results in a timely manner
If applicable, records information on Implantable Load Form and returns form to Department of Surgery
Organizes all paperwork daily for end of month or other regulatory reporting
Manually cleans case carts after use
Places cart on hydraulic lift (where applicable by location)
Cleans interior and exterior sections of cart with approved solution
Transports clean carts and instruments as needed between departments
Conducts daily testing and completes and maintains all records for the SPD units
Prepares loan/consignment instruments
Receives/documents items
Inspects/decontaminates instruments
Assembles appropriate instrumentation
Sterilizes/delivers to OR for use
Delivers additional trays and supplies to O.R.
Performs housekeeping functions - keeps area neat and organized
Retrieves soiled carts/instruments following the procedures from both the OR and Labor and Delivery
Uses proper etiquette when answering phones
Cleans sterilizer chambers and carts as set forth in policy
Cases Pick cases including add-ons
Fill all needs on carts
Organize case supplies and equipment for use by the OR Circulator and Technician
Scopes Reprocess and store all assigned scopes as per manufacturers instructions
Follow chain of care for communication of issues
Other duties as assigned