Sterile Processing Tech I

Billings Clinic•Billings, MT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sterile Processing Tech I is responsible for ensuring surgical supplies, instruments, and equipment are properly maintained, decontaminated, assembled, inspected, packaged, sterilized, stored, distributed, and tracked throughout the hospital in a quality and timely manner. The role serves as a resource to sterile processing customers on the Main Campus and in the Region. The technician uses manufacturer guidelines and established procedures to reprocess instruments and clinical equipment, operates and troubleshoots cleaning and sterilization equipment, and selects appropriate sterilization or high-level disinfection methods. The position also requires accurate documentation and verification of sterilization loads and biological tests, identification of unfamiliar equipment and its proper reprocessing procedures, and maintaining a clean, orderly, and safe work environment. The technician maintains competencies and meets organizational, departmental, and external standards, and performs other duties as assigned or needed.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent.
Sterile processing certification, CRCST (Certified Registered Central Service Technician) through IAHCSMM or equivalent, required within 18 months of hire; an equivalent combination of education and experience relating to the listed tasks, knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.
Ability to identify and properly process a range of instruments and clinical equipment.
Ability to operate and troubleshoot cleaning, sterilization, and high-level disinfection equipment.
Ability to follow manufacturer guidelines, validated sterilization methods, and regulatory procedures.
Ability to document and verify sterilization loads and biological tests.

Responsibilities

Support and model behaviors consistent with Billings Clinic’s mission, vision, values, code of business conduct, and service expectations.
Meet mandatory organizational and departmental requirements and maintain competency in applicable organizational, departmental, and external standards.
Sort, disassemble, decontaminate, clean, and disinfect instruments and clinical equipment using appropriate manufacturer-guided methods.
Operate and troubleshoot cleaning equipment; handle garbage, soiled linen, and biohazard materials appropriately.
Inspect instruments for cleanliness and functionality; assemble and package them according to established standards and the validated sterilization method.
Select suitable packaging materials for the item and sterilization process, and identify instruments and their proper processing requirements.
Select and use appropriate sterilization or high-level disinfection methods according to established principles and procedures.
Document and verify sterilization loads and biological tests to determine sterilization efficacy.
Demonstrate competency with sterilization and high-level disinfection equipment and understand the advantages and limitations of available methods.
Maintain proficiency in assigned sterile processing work areas and keep the work environment clean and orderly.
Identify unfamiliar equipment and determine appropriate reprocessing procedures using available resources.
Perform other duties as assigned or needed to meet department or organizational needs.