Sterile Processing Tech. 2

Brown Medicine • 593 Eddy Street - Bridge, AZ

4d • $28 - $30 • Onsite

About The Position

Under the guidance and direction of the sterile reprocessing Supervisor and management team, the SPD Technician II performs all core duties and responsibilities. This role participates as a preceptor for new employees and SPD Technician I, and actively engages in process improvement activities. The Technician II utilizes critical thinking skills, serves as a resource for SPD Assistants and SPD Technician I, and actively participates in the on-boarding of new employees. The Technician II is expected to specialize and serve as a subject matter expert for service lines and/or processes. Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, which guide everyday actions with patients, customers, and colleagues. In addition to these values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors, which outline how to work together and achieve goals, including Instilling Trust, Valuing Differences, Patient and Community Focus, and Collaboration.

Requirements

• High School Graduate or equivalent with the ability to read, write, and speak fluent English.
• Requires a minimum of three (3) years Sterile Processing experience.
• Must have Sterile Processing Certification as a CRCST or CBSPDT at the time of hire.
• Must have Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) Certification or its equivalent at the time of application.
• Must maintain certification(s) to remain in this position.
• Ability to operate a personal computer is required to access and input information to prepare and maintain records.
• Ability to identify a wide variety of surgical instruments and equipment to select appropriate items for case carts and instrument sets, etc.
• Ability to operate automatic washers and sterilization equipment according to equipment operating instructions.
• Organizational and numerical ability to receive, count, and store materials and to prepare and maintain case carts, etc.
• Applies and successfully passes the interview process for SPD Tech II position.
• Must be in good standing with no current corrective actions at the time of application for Tech II role.
• Must maintain all required certifications.
• Required to precept other employees.

Nice To Haves

• Participates as a preceptor for new employees, SPD Technician I
• Actively participates in process improvement activities.
• Uses critical thinking skills
• Is a resource for SPD Assistants and SPD Technician I
• Actively participates in the on-boarding of new employees.
• Expected to specialize and serve as subject matter expert for service lines and/or processes.
• Functions as resource &mentor for SPD Technicians ⅈ lead by example.
• Develops and maintains expert knowledge &competency of sterile processing services, standards, policies, and procedures.
• Utilize critical thinking skills to identify and resolve issues appropriately.
• Competent knowledge of surgical instrumentation, at an expert level.
• Participates in shared governance to develop and implement quality improvement projects and is an active member of the quality improvement process.
• Is involved in work process improvement discussions, plans and projects
• Able to troubleshoot some of the basic equipment errors and escalates as needed.

Responsibilities

• Consistently applies the corporate values of respect, honesty, and fairness, and the constant pursuit of excellence in improving the health status of the people of the region through the provision of customer-friendly, geographically accessible, and high-value services within the environment of a comprehensive integrated academic health system.
• Is responsible for knowing and acting in accordance with the principles of the Brown University Health Corporate Compliance Program and Code of Conduct.
• Must be able to perform all duties in accordance with Brown University Health Policies and Procedures, manufacturers’ Instructions for Use (IFUs), regulatory and national standards.
• Must be certified by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) as a CRCST or by the Certification Board of Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) as a CBSPDT at all times during employment.
• Precepts and verifies competency and skill development of staff as appropriate, providing meaningful feedback to the SPD management team.
• Capable of taking Charge duties in the absence of the Supervisor and Coordinator.
• Relates all employee issues to the coordinator, supervisor, or management team.
• Functions as a resource and mentor for SPD Technicians & II; leads by example.
• Develops and maintains expert knowledge and competency of sterile processing services, standards, policies, and procedures.
• Understands and utilizes the surgical schedule, preference cards, and instrument tracking system to prioritize and coordinate workflow to meet department needs in an efficient manner.
• Utilizes critical thinking skills to identify and resolve issues appropriately.
• Possesses competent knowledge of surgical instrumentation at an expert level.
• Participates in shared governance to develop and implement quality improvement projects and is an active member of the quality improvement process.
• Is involved in work process improvement discussions, plans, and projects.
• Sets up and cleans work area at the beginning, end, and as needed each shift, per procedure and infection control standards.
• Maintains a clean and organized work area.
• Follows Infection Control Practices and utilizes approved PPE per policy.
• Receives soiled, used, and/or contaminated equipment, surgical instruments, scopes, and supplies from Operating Rooms, patient care units, and specialized areas. Documents per department procedures.
• Disassembles items as needed before choosing the appropriate cleaning method.
• Identifies items in need of repair upon receipt and ensures information is maintained during the cleaning process by tagging items appropriately if not already tagged by the user department.
• Selects and utilizes appropriate manual cleaning tools to achieve instrument decontamination, including but not limited to instrument brushes, enzymatic detergent, neutral detergent, flushing devices, ultrasonic bath, and leak tester.
• Selects and utilizes appropriate automated cleaning tools to achieve instrument decontamination.
• Operates equipment per IFUs; this includes loading and selecting appropriate cycles, cleaning, and inspection for automated washers, cart washers, sonics, Automatic Endoscopic Re-processors (AERs), and all equipment used in the area to process instrumentation.
• Properly loads and unloads instrument washers, cart washers, sonics, AER, etc., according to IFU and standards.
• Documents tray assembly utilizing instrument tracking software.
• Inspects and assembles all equipment, instruments, scopes, and instrument sets following product recipe, verifies items are functional, free of debris, and required per IFU.
• Documents items missing from an instrument set after a thorough search, escalating the set to the SPD Supervisor or Coordinator.
• Identifies and places the appropriate internal indicator as required per IFU.
• Selects the appropriate packaging method, including any sterilization accessories (corner protectors, etc.); ensures all external indicators and/or labels are securely affixed to the item.
• Follows preventative maintenance according to manufacturer’s instructions for use for specific equipment.
• Follows manufacturer’s Instruction for Use (IFU) to select the appropriate disinfection/sterilization method and approved cycle type/time.
• Inspects packages to ensure all external indicators, filters, and/or labels are securely affixed to items, returns non-satisfactory products to assembly.
• Loads sterilizer as appropriate to ensure cycle completion and following proper loading techniques according to IFU.
• Performs routine sterilizer testing including biological monitoring, leak test, and bowie dick test as appropriate.
• Following established policies, interprets and appropriately documents results of sterilizer testing, cycles, and issues.
• Escalates issues, for example positive BI results or malfunctioning equipment, as appropriate for intervention.
• Removes and inspects items from sterilizer utilizing approved methods to preserve package integrity.
• Following established procedures, selects the appropriate High-Level Disinfection method, has basic knowledge of AER units used in the department, and can perform diagnostic tests.
• Performs flexible scope cleaning.
• Utilizes approved PPE as appropriate.
• Utilizes patient-specific pick lists to accurately gather surgical instruments and disposable supplies requested by the attending surgeon or another Peri-Operative representative per preference card.
• Inspects items during the pick process to ensure package integrity remains intact, the package is within its expiration date, and substitutions are appropriate.
• Communicates unmet surgical supply requests to the Coordinator for resolution assistance.
• Modifies picking order as directed by EMR based on the changing OR Surgical Schedule.
• Maintains equipment through routine maintenance as required per IFU and regulatory standards. Examples include but are not limited to: Sterilizer strainer check and cleaning, Sterilizer door gasket check for integrity and Printers roll and ink check. Washer arm debris check and flushing, Cart and instrument washer strainer check, Instrument and cart washer weekly descaling. Sterilizer weekly cleaning per IFU.
• Routine maintenance of SPD equipment is an important part of infection prevention and is a strategy that must be kept up with, to keep our patients safe.
• Able to troubleshoot some of the basic equipment errors and escalates as needed.
• Other duties related to their jobs as assigned.

Benefits

• Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED