CSS Tech 1

Yale New Haven Health•New Haven, CT

About The Position

The CSS Tech 1 is responsible for preparing trays and equipment and processing general and specialty surgical instruments. Work includes cleaning, decontamination, inspection, assembly, wrapping, sterilization, quality control testing, monitoring sterilization equipment, and maintaining records. The technician may also clean, stock, transport, and dispense supplies and equipment. The role supports surgical procedures by preparing and delivering instruments and case carts, processing user requests, and carrying out sterilization and high-level disinfection and scope-processing procedures. The technician must follow manufacturer instructions, established department standards, and documentation requirements while supporting the organization’s vision, mission, and values of integrity, patient-centeredness, respect, accountability, and compassion.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent.
For the experience pathway, six months of employment as a central service technician in a healthcare facility before January 1, 2016; alternatively, hold a certified registered central service technician credential administered by IAHCSMM or a certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential administered by CBSPD.
Be competent and physically able to perform CSS duties independently in decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and distribution.
Have no current written disciplinary actions and meet or exceed production standards.
Applicants without experience or certification must obtain an IAHCSMM certified registered central service technician credential or a CBSPD certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential within 24 months of hire.
Earn and maintain the required IAHCSMM or CBSPD certification within 24 months of hire, and complete at least ten hours of annual continuing education in infection control and the decontamination and sterilization of reusable medical equipment, instruments, and devices.
Know operating-room surgical instrumentation and quality-assurance practices, and be able to assemble CSS, One Day Surgery, and Main Operating Room surgical instrumentation.
Have strong knowledge of CSS operations, sterilization equipment, and sterility-assurance practices.
Demonstrate proficiency in biological monitoring, sterilization-equipment testing, documentation, and record keeping.
Use strong communication, medical terminology, and critical-thinking skills to solve problems in potentially stressful situations; demonstrate high-reliability behaviors.
Be able to lift at least 30 pounds repetitively; push, pull, bend, stand, walk, lift, and carry during eight-hour shifts; and perform fine hand manipulations.
Be mentally alert, able to perform multiple tasks, and physically and emotionally able to work under stress in a fast-paced environment.
Be able to push or pull objects weighing more than 30 pounds and lift trays or equipment weighing up to 30 pounds.
Be able to follow written and verbal instructions.

Responsibilities

Provide accurate, properly functioning surgical instrumentation for procedures, ensuring appropriate processing, storage, and usage based on scheduled and anticipated demand.
Remove, assemble, and sort instruments from washers and sterilizers in a timely manner and scan them into SPM.
Manage case-cart picking using SPM and appropriate pick sheets, following standard setups and quality-assurance procedures and ensuring timely delivery.
Use Epic and SPM to obtain and apply the correct DPC sheets when preparing case carts; verify accuracy against the scheduled case type and consult a supervisor or Tech II resource when needed.
Process user requests accurately, efficiently, and courteously.
Answer the department telephone within three rings using a headset and identify the department pleasantly and courteously.
Manage information received or required during daily activities, recognize machine alarms and warnings, and respond appropriately.
Perform sterilization procedures accurately and on time, follow documentation requirements, and complete daily biological testing of each steam autoclave; perform biological validation on every sterilization load.
Assemble and package instruments and supplies in the CSS preparation and packaging area according to priorities and daily assignments.
Use inventory and assignment information to identify processing needs for individual instruments.
Perform decontamination procedures to prevent the transfer of organisms to the sterile area of CSS.
Check case carts, remove used carts from the elevator, and sort instruments and supplies appropriately.
Meet department production standards for case care, decontamination, sterilization, and preparation and packaging.
Produce kits according to priority at a consistent rate meeting or exceeding 900 instruments per eight-hour shift.
Meet department standards for high-level disinfection and scope processing.
Inspect scopes for point-of-use pre-cleaning; follow manufacturer instructions for pre-cleaning when needed, manually clean scope channels containing lumens, perform leak testing according to instructions for use, and demonstrate competence in manual and automatic reprocessing.