Lead Sterile Processing Tech - Evenings

Endeavor Health•Arlington Heights, IL

14h•Onsite

About The Position

This position coordinates the daily activities of the Sterile Processing Department, including decontamination, instrument set assembly, medical device processing, patient-care equipment processing, case cart processing, disposal of refuse, and distribution of supplies. The Lead Sterile Processing Tech is responsible for daily Process, Distribution, and Communication Logs and any production statistics requested by leadership. This role serves as the primary mentor for new technicians and provides continuous training for all technicians. It also acts as the daily liaison between Sterile Processing and Surgical Services, communicating daily issues with OR staff and SPD staff. The Lead Sterile Processing Tech actively participates and contributes to an ongoing departmental quality improvement program through consistent leadership, education, and training of all Sterile Processing Technicians. This role manages all processes in the absence of the supervisor or manager and promotes effective interpersonal and interdepartmental relationships, maintaining professional conduct at all times.

Requirements

High school Diploma or GED required.
Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) or Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) through Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (previously known as IAHCMM) upon hire.
Two (2) years’ experience in healthcare sterile processing (or surgical/procedural area) required.
Two (2) years’ experience as a lead or experience in staff education required.
Proficiency in Outlook required.
Basic writing, reading and mathematics.
Comprehensive knowledge of infection control practices.
Comprehensive knowledge of sterilization techniques.
Comprehensive knowledge of patient care equipment.
Comprehensive knowledge of supplies and case cart process.
Accuracy.
Attention to detail.
Ability to modify accordingly to priority changes.
Customer service.
Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) - Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Required OR Certified Surgical Technologist (CST®) - National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) Required OR Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) - Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) Required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in staff education.

Responsibilities

Assist in running the department when supervisor is unavailable.
Inform management of items and supplies needed to order, and assist in locating any needed instrumentation and to adjust work flow as needed to keep up with OR demand.
Oversee the departmental needs on a daily basis.
Provide hospital and affiliated facilities with sterile processed materials and equipment.
Execute established procedures for decontamination, assembly, packaging, sterilization, and surgical case cart set up practices by ensuring quality product for patient care.
Follow established procedures to ensure decontamination completion.
Place sterile items in appropriate areas for distribution, ensuring the items are accurately labeled by department.
Demonstrates a commitment to the mission of Endeavor, establishes a service orientation with all our customer interactions and adheres to all responsibilities and standards of the Hospital.
Observes and acts as a resource person to all the Sterile Processing Technicians relating to all processing activities in the sterile processing department including vendor/loaner tray management.
Performs mentoring/training of new technicians and provides continuous training for all technicians as processes change/evolve.
Assess Decontamination, Set Assembly and Sterilization areas daily to direct Sterile Processing Technicians in any deviations from daily activities due to priority changes.
Manages to daily Surgical Schedule and Preference Cards, performs Case Cart process, makes determination and initiates assignments for Case Cart Process.
Acts as the liaison to the Surgical and Procedural Services, resolving issues that need to be addressed or acted on immediately as daily priorities evolve.
Coordinates through communication to oncoming shift any incomplete tasks or additional assignments to ensure continuity of work flow.
Operates and monitors all equipment in Sterile Processing including case cart washer, washer/disinfector, steam sterilizers, low temperature sterilizer, steam-gun, Automated Endoscope Reprocessor.
Assists as necessary in the daily assignments and performs related duties as assigned by Sterile Processing leadership.
Accepts responsibility for the department activities in the absence of other Sterile Processing leadership.
Manages documentation of sterilization records.
Validates sterilization records daily, establishes sound infection control practices have been met.
Submits complete and comprehensive figures for department productivity on a regular basis.
Participates and contributes to departmental continuous quality improvement through communication to Sterile Processing leadership of any process problems, supply shortages and equipment malfunctions.
Observes and monitors competency standards that are developed and implemented by Sterile Processing leadership, provides feedback to leadership when competency standards are not being met.
Monitors par-levels of items such as pins, screws, drill bits and plates, supplies and consumables.
Communicates to Surgical Services if specific items need to be ordered.
Assists Sterile Processing leadership in the maintenance of an orderly surgical instrument inventory, as well as repair and maintenance of standard, hand-held surgical instruments.
Coordinates the implementation of instrument Count Sheets with Sterile Processing leadership.
Reviews any updates or changes with Sterile Processing leadership and communicates changes to all Sterile Processing Technicians.
May be asked to transport trays between locations.
Ensures continuity of work-flow throughout shift transitions for all Sterile Processing technicians.
Attends staff meetings and in-services, as well as outside educational seminars (as needed).
Other duties as assigned.