Sterile Processing Tech
About The Position
As a Sterile Processing Professional, you will help protect patient safety by ensuring surgical teams receive correct, functional, sterile instruments. The role performs decontamination, preparation and packing, sterilization, and dispatch of instruments, following applicable department, manufacturer, and OSHA standards. It also involves continued learning about standards and procedures for surgical instrumentation and requires attention to detail, organizational skills, infection-control discipline, and professionalism. The position collects, cleans, decontaminates, checks, distributes, and tracks patient-care equipment and reusable supplies. It inspects, disassembles, sorts, cleans, and processes instruments and equipment; operates specialized cleaning equipment; and follows manufacturers’ cleaning instructions and guidance on cleaning agents. It assembles general and specialty instruments, power equipment, lasers, endoscopes, complex instrument sets, and procedural kits according to specifications, manufacturer recommendations, standard operating procedures, and surgical case count sheets. Sets may include ear, vascular, orthopedic specialty, cataract, and lap-cholecystectomy trays. The role inspects instruments for proper function and condition, ensures broken instruments are repaired and dull instruments sharpened before sterilization, and prepares organized packages within weight limits using suitable wrapping and sterilization materials. It sterilizes equipment using appropriate methods and agents, which may include steam, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, ethylene oxide, and glutaraldehyde. The technician selects sterilization methods and prepares equipment and packaging according to the materials being processed and written manufacturer instructions.
Requirements
- One year of related work experience demonstrating the required job knowledge, skills, and abilities; experience in an operating room, acute care hospital, or central services department is preferred.
- Obtain one of the following certifications within 6 months: Certified and Registered Central Service Technician; Certified Sterile Processing and Dist Tech; Cert Sterile Processing Dist Tech; or Certified Sterile Processing and Dist Supervisor.
- Exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a rigorous commitment to infection control.
- Professional demeanor and courtesy.
Nice To Haves
- Graduation from the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management Course.
- Related experience in an operating room, acute care hospital, or central services department.
Responsibilities
- Collect, clean, decontaminate, check, distribute, and track reusable equipment, supplies, and associated storage units according to department, manufacturer, and OSHA standards.
- Inspect, disassemble, sort, clean, and process reusable instruments and equipment; select and operate specialized cleaning equipment and use cleaning agents according to manufacturer recommendations.
- Identify, inspect, and assemble general and specialty instruments, power equipment, lasers, and endoscopes according to specifications and manufacturer recommendations.
- Assemble instruments, complex instrument sets, and surgical kits using the appropriate items, trays, and instruments, arranging them for effective sterilization according to standard operating procedures and surgical case count sheets.
- Process complex procedural sets, including ear, vascular, orthopedic specialty, cataract, and lap-cholecystectomy sets.
- Inspect instruments for proper functioning and defects, including sharpness, tightness, jaw function, and rough edges.
- Ensure broken instruments are repaired and dull instruments are sharpened before trays or sets are submitted for sterilization.
- Prepare organized, compact packages within proper weight limits and select appropriate wrapping and sterilization packaging materials.
- Sterilize equipment using the appropriate method and agent according to department, manufacturer, and OSHA standards.
- Identify items requiring gaseous sterilization and adjust temperature and timing mechanisms to allow circulation and permeation of the sterilizing medium.
- Continuously expand knowledge of standards and procedures for surgical instrumentation.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
No Education Listed
