Sterile Processing Tech - Full Time

Athens Orthopedic Clinic•Loganville, GA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Athens Orthopedic is seeking a Sterile Processing Technician to be assigned to our ambulatory surgery center (ASC) in Loganville. This role requires knowledge of equipment function, sanitary standards, infection control, and safety parameters. The technician will use OneSource as a resource for assembling and wrapping instruments, supplies, and equipment. They will be responsible for decontaminating and sterilizing equipment, supplies, and instruments, ensuring all processes, procedures, quality assurance, chemicals, and medical instruments are handled correctly. The position involves physical tasks such as lifting and moving trays and equipment up to 25 lbs, bending, and washing using decontamination processes. Good telephone manners and problem-solving skills are essential. The role also includes maintaining records for Quality Assurance and sterilization, and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements, including Joint Commission Standards and Standard Precautions.

Requirements

Knowledge of equipment function sufficient to be able to determine operational adequacy and to distinguish between operator error and equipment malfunction.
Knowledge of applicable sanitary, infection control, and safety standards sufficient to be able to perform all assignments within the safety parameters.
Knowledge sufficient to be able to assemble and wrap appropriate instruments, supplies and equipment (using OneSource as resource).
Knowledge of processes, procedures, quality assurance, chemicals and medical instruments sufficient to be able to decontaminate and sterilize equipment, supplies and instruments.
Ability to lift and move trays of instruments and patient care equipment, i.e., IV pumps, monitors, up to 25 lbs.
Good telephone manners and problem-solving skills.
Ability to perform bending, lifting, and washing using decontamination processes, which will include instrument pans, bins, trays, and carts of various sizes.
Tactile differentiation, e.g. temperature, moisture.
Skill in cleaning specialized equipment.
Familiarity with organization, department and job specific Environment of Care areas, including Life Safety, Hazardous Materials Communications, Emergency Preparedness, Infection Control and Medical Equipment Failure.

Responsibilities

Operates all required equipment and machinery accurately and safely.
Prepares, assembles, and sterilizes instruments and supplies according to sterilization parameters in accordance with The Department of Health, TJC, OSHA, CDC, AAMI and AORN standards.
Maintains appropriate records, and monitors quality control and infection control standards.
Provides asset management and support of surgical instruments and trays belonging to or consigned to the facility.
Accurately handles and cares for instruments appropriately, including appropriate selection of cleaning agents, lubricants, examination for function, identification and assembly and preparation for sterilization.
Retrieves malfunctioning instruments and ensures repairs are completed.
Correctly peel-packs supplies/instruments, wraps instruments for sterilization, inspects each instrument for use, function, completeness and cleanliness.
Ensures safe care to patients, staff and visitors; adheres to all policies, procedures and standards and quality of service.
Promotes individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education and skills competency; supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization.
Communicates with operating room staff to provide required instruments.
Is responsible for reporting damaged or malfunctioning equipment to Clinical Director and Material Manger and follow process for replacement.
Serves as a resource to nursing staff in all departments regarding responsibilities of proper sterilization techniques.
Cleans, sets up, sterilizes and distributes instruments as scheduled on each shift.
Maintains records for QA and sterilization.
Complies with all regulatory requirements, including Joint Commission Standards.
Is familiar with organization, department and job specific Environment of Care areas, including Life Safety, Hazardous Materials Communications, Emergency Preparedness, Infection Control and Medical Equipment Failure.
Adheres to Standard Precautions as appropriate, which may include the use of protective barriers, handling and disposing of infectious waste appropriately, and hand washing as appropriate.