Certified Sterile Processing Technician - Anderson Hospital

Mercy Health BSMH•Union Township, OH

15d•Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Sterile Processing Technician works under general supervision to inspect, clean, assemble, test, and process patient care equipment, supplies, and instruments. Work follows established policies, manufacturers’ instructions for use, and applicable sterility standards, including those of AAMI, The Joint Commission, the CDC, and state standards of practice. Primary duties may vary by assigned area. The technician performs decontamination and sterilization work, maintains supplies and inventory, documents quality-control activities, and helps ensure infection control and patient safety. The role also involves identifying and testing surgical instruments, using sterile-processing equipment and information systems, participating in education and staff orientation, and being available for scheduled on-call work.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
One of the following certifications: Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) through HSPA, or certification through the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).

Nice To Haves

Recent experience in a surgical setting.
EPIC training.
Ability to follow instructions and work independently and under pressure.
Knowledge of anatomy, infection control, AAMI recommendations, and sterile-processing workflow.
Ability to anticipate needs, communicate across levels, use computer systems, think critically, and move with a sense of urgency.
Possess surgical conscience, professionalism, self-direction, teamwork, and ability to take direction.
Preceptor skills.

Responsibilities

Decontaminate, manually clean, and process surgical instruments and patient care equipment according to manufacturers’ instructions for use.
Use appropriate detergents and chemical disinfectants to remove blood, bone, and other body tissues from contaminated surgical equipment, while following standard precautions.
Inventory, stock, label, order, restock, and deliver supplies, carts, and equipment; maintain inventory levels, rotate stock, and inspect for expired items.
Perform and document sterile-processing quality-control activities using information technology systems for instrument tracking, surgery schedules, surgeon preference cards, and supply management.
Maintain quality assurance standards related to sterilization and infection control.
Operate sterilizers and use appropriate sterilization techniques to produce sterile packages, following aseptic assembly protocols.
Monitor sterilization using chemical and biological indicators and integrators.
Document activities and report variances that could affect sterile products, patient care, or safety.
Identify and resolve infection-control issues involving transport of biological hazardous materials, use of universal precautions and PPE, and sterile-product identification.
Operate and test washers, disinfectors, steam and hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilizers, and other facility-specific equipment and instrumentation.
Identify surgical instruments by specialty and perform functionality testing, assembly, and disassembly according to manufacturers’ instructions for use.
Participate in ongoing education and competency verification.
Participate in orientation of new staff and students as assigned.
Participate in the continuing development of personnel in the Operating Room.
Be accessible for scheduled on-call work and available within department-designated time frames.