Lead Sterile Coordinator

WVU Medicine

About The Position

Coordinates sterile processing functions that are necessary to support the Hospital and its associated clinics, which includes the decontamination, processing, and sterilization of surgical/procedural instruments, trays, scopes, supplies, and equipment. Serves as an organizational technical processing expert. Assumes primary responsibility for care and quality checks of power equipment coordinating use through walking rounds and communications with procedural areas. Assumes responsibility for ensuring patient specific instruments, trays, and instrument implants have been received and met institutional quality use standards. Reviews weekly forecast schedules to ensure loaner trays are ordered and that instrument implant volumes match projected patient care needs. Facilitates continuous communications and performance improvement leading work groups as it relates to all surgical instruments, implants, supplies, and equipment provided through the case cart system. Performs practice gap analysis comparing current practice to best practice to lead change initiatives. Recommends and implements new or updated processing standards. Handles daily operational details of construction/renovation of processing areas.

Requirements

High School Diploma or Equivalent.
Graduate of a surgical tech and/or certified central service tech program.
Certified Registered Central Service Technician through the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) or Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) through Certified Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD)
Certification as Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) through (HSPA) OR Certified Surgical Instrument Specialist (CSIS) through (CBSPD) or obtain within 90 days of hire.
Five (5) years of sterile processing experience, including two years at a supervisory or management level.
Must have strong background knowledge of surgical and procedural environments and governing practice standards including the need for excellent personal hygiene to reduce the risk of work product contamination.
Must have strong background knowledge of sterile processing environment, including packaging systems, sterilization process, care and handling of instrumentation and equipment.
Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must demonstrate verbal and written proficiencies to utilize written high level disinfection/sterilization guidelines and manufacturers’ instructions for use (IFU’s).
Must have working knowledge of information systems, preferably in the health care setting.
Must demonstrate ability to independently plan, organize, and set priorities in routine and/or emergency situations.
Knowledge of automated materials management and OR/procedural scheduling information system applications as well as Microsoft Office functionalities.
Leadership skills needed to lead small work groups and present concepts to a diverse audience of both consumers and providers of service.
Must be physically capable of prolonged periods of standing and walking.
Must be capable of lifting up to 60 pounds and pushing loaded carts weighing in excess of 200 pounds.
Must possess visual/oral acuity along with manual dexterity and technical ability.
Must be able to discern and distinguish colors.
Must complete vision screening test for near and far vision. Must screen 20/40 or better or will be referred to the Eye Center.
Must be able to work in a high stress environment.
Must be able to prioritize work tasks to demonstrate completion of those tied to urgent/emergent patient care needs.
Must be able to diffuse front line conflict and engage in crucial conversations to promote a healthy work environment.

Nice To Haves

Certified Healthcare Leadership (CHL) through HSPA.

Responsibilities

Develops systems that promote sterile processing functions that are necessary to support the Hospital and its associated clinics, which includes the decontamination, processing, and sterilization of surgical/procedural instruments, trays, scopes, supplies, and equipment.
Serves as an organizational technical processing expert and departmental liaison.
Assumes primary responsibility for care and quality checks of power equipment coordinating use through walking rounds and communications with procedural areas. Uses EPIC, SPM, instrumentation/equipment reports, and computerized scheduling grids to coordinate the multi-floor use of power equipment in OR/HVI.
Leads the search for missing items. Communicates resolution actions. Daily assesses the use of vendor provided storage space to monitor for agreement compliance.
Assumes responsibility for ensuring patient specific instruments, trays, and instrument implants have been received and met institutional quality use standards. Reviews weekly forecast schedules to ensure loaner trays are ordered and that instrument implant volumes match projected patient care needs. Communicates to others locations and processing stages of loaner equipment.
Facilitates continuous communications and performance improvement leading work groups as it relates to all surgical instruments, implants, supplies, and equipment provided through the case cart system
Performs practice gap analysis comparing current practice to best practice to lead change initiatives.
Establishes and maintains communications with SPD, OR, HVI, L & D, and ambulatory clinic Managers, Charge staff, and vendors.
Recommends and implements new or updated processing standards.
Assists the OR, HVI, and SPD in the instrument, capital, and operational budgeting processes.
Conducts and trends formal daily quality review of case carts and instrument implants inventory. Coordinates the inventory of instrument implants kept in the SPD environment.
Monitors instrumentation problems/issues, trends events, and coordinates/implements resolutions.
Presents or facilitates the presentation of power equipment in-services to SPD and OR providers.
Coordinates the department scheduling of shift employees with shift Coordinators.
Collaborates with SPD management in hiring decisions for Sterile Processing staff.
Responds to immediate physician needs; Then, develops and implements permanent solution in conjunction with Perioperative Director, Managers and Service Team Members and Sterile Processing Manager/Supervisor.
Provides customers with requested instrumentation usage reports for capital and operational budget planning.
Coordinates the safe operation along with the appropriate maintenance of all sterilization equipment (steam, ETO, STERRAD sterilizers, Steris 1 E, washers, ultrasonic, etc.).
Executes projects as necessary to assure continuous performance improvement. Designs/conducts quality monitoring and required regulatory action response auditing.
Drafts in conjunction with the SPD Manager and Supervisor, operational budgets/cost saving initiatives. Implements appropriate budgetary controls to assure that expenditures are maintained within departmental determined parameters.
Coordinates in conjunction with SPD Manager long term capital replacement schedules and enters annual capital requests into computerized request management system. Handles daily operational details of construction/renovation of processing areas.