Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Department of Veterans Affairs•Hines, IL

32d•Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Supply Technician in Sterile Processing primary function is responsible for sterile processing and/or high-level disinfectants of critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment, maintaining quality assurance with all the machines, scopes and high-level disinfectors. The Supervisory MST functions as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work. In this position, you will serve as Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing). Work assignments: Rotates among the various medical supply operation assignments in a medical and surgical environment requiring a complete range of medical supplies, instruments and equipment. Cleans, packages, assembles, sterilizes, and distributes supply items used for patient care in the medical center, wards, operating rooms, laboratories, and clinics. Equipment Operation: Operates an ultrasonic cleaner, washer/sterilizer, dryer, cart washer, steam sterilizers, gas sterilizer and aerator. Decontamination: Collects contaminated supplies and portable equipment from wards, operating rooms, laboratories, and clinics of the hospital according to schedule. Receives, disassembles and inspects for damage reusable medical supplies, instruments and equipment. Determines correct method for pre-sterilizing. Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids and other gross contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, scrubbing and use of appropriate decontamination equipment. Loads and operates pre-sterilizers. Reassembles medical equipment, including such complex equipment as cell centrifuges, which require skilled, careful positioning of parts and the complete elimination of dust particles or lint from the chambers. Removes items from pre- . sterilizers and determines type of tray or set to assemble based on recognition of key items and the oneratin1:1: room and clinic schedules been removed. Assembles sets and trays by selecting appropriate tray, lining it with a towel, and arranging instruments in the tray in the correct manner, e.g., hinged instruments in open position, ring-handled instruments on a spreader, heavy instruments on the bottom, delicate items prewrapped to prevent damage, blades and points properly covered. Strives for a compact, logically arranged package that will permit effective penetration of the sterilizing medium. Places devices in the tray, selects correct wrapping for the tray, and wraps and labels it. Selects correct sterilizing medium and cycles, and operates sterilizer. Aerates gas-sterilized items for correct period of time. Periodically monitors operation of sterilizer with prescribed tests. In emergencies, uses less than optimum techniques such as flash sterilizing or faster heat techniques which might tend to deteriorate the piece of equipment. Equipment and Tray Assembly and Packaging: Inspects the condition of operating room trays, instruments and needles for cleanliness and damage and replaces them as required. Assembles, wraps, dates, initials, and labels trays. Assembles and stocks all equipment for stations and case carts. Receives used and contaminated equipment such as bed frames, mattresses, and vacuum pumps. Disassembles equipment, removes gross contamination from the component parts, reassembles the equipment, and checks its functioning. Determines appropriate method for cleaning and sterilizing the equipment, operates sterilizers, and stores and issues the equipment. Advises medical personnel on the proper use of the equipment and on problems that arise in connection with its use. In addition: Receives periodic training in such areas as the use and functioning of new medical supplies, instruments, and equipment; new or improved sterilization practices; and developments in microbiology, bacteriology, and therapeutic practices as they affect the sterile supply operation. Periodically inventories medical supplies and equipment, keeping records and determining reordering needs. Removes outdated material from shelves for re-sterilization. Provides training and orientation to medical personnel on sterile supply techniques and procedures. Supply/Distribution: Receives sterilized trays, sets. and equipment from the sterilizer, checks for effectiveness of sterilization (color change on marker tapes, dampness of the packages), tags sterilized material indicating date of sterilization and expiration date, and stocks shelves with sterilized material. Assembles and loads ward and operating room carts according to schedules, and fills special and emergency request for supplies; Advises medical personnel on availability of supplies, possible substitutes, and effective use of equipment. Restock supply closets and carts located in the wards, operating rooms, laboratories, clinics, and storerooms. The supply closets and carts are inventoried daily and replenished with supplies and equipment. Distributes supplies and equipment based upon special requests and requisition tickets. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

sterile processing and/or high-level disinfectants of critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment
maintaining quality assurance with all the machines, scopes and high-level disinfectors
Rotates among the various medical supply operation assignments in a medical and surgical environment requiring a complete range of medical supplies, instruments and equipment
Cleans, packages, assembles, sterilizes, and distributes supply items used for patient care in the medical center, wards, operating rooms, laboratories, and clinics
Operates an ultrasonic cleaner, washer/sterilizer, dryer, cart washer, steam sterilizers, gas sterilizer and aerator
Collects contaminated supplies and portable equipment from wards, operating rooms, laboratories, and clinics of the hospital according to schedule
Receives, disassembles and inspects for damage reusable medical supplies, instruments and equipment
Determines correct method for pre-sterilizing
Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids and other gross contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, scrubbing and use of appropriate decontamination equipment
Loads and operates pre-sterilizers
Reassembles medical equipment
Assembles sets and trays
Inspects the condition of operating room trays, instruments and needles for cleanliness and damage and replaces them as required
Assembles, wraps, dates, initials, and labels trays
Assembles and stocks all equipment for stations and case carts
Receives used and contaminated equipment such as bed frames, mattresses, and vacuum pumps
Disassembles equipment, removes gross contamination from the component parts, reassembles the equipment, and checks its functioning
Determines appropriate method for cleaning and sterilizing the equipment, operates sterilizers, and stores and issues the equipment
Advises medical personnel on the proper use of the equipment and on problems that arise in connection with its use
Receives periodic training
Periodically inventories medical supplies and equipment, keeping records and determining reordering needs
Removes outdated material from shelves for re-sterilization
Provides training and orientation to medical personnel on sterile supply techniques and procedures
Receives sterilized trays, sets. and equipment from the sterilizer, checks for effectiveness of sterilization (color change on marker tapes, dampness of the packages), tags sterilized material indicating date of sterilization and expiration date, and stocks shelves with sterilized material
Assembles and loads ward and operating room carts according to schedules, and fills special and emergency request for supplies
Advises medical personnel on availability of supplies, possible substitutes, and effective use of equipment
Restock supply closets and carts located in the wards, operating rooms, laboratories, clinics, and storerooms
Distributes supplies and equipment based upon special requests and requisition tickets
Performs other related duties as assigned