Sterile Processing Tech

CommonSpirit Health•Silverdale, WA

About The Position

The Sterile Processing Tech helps protect patient safety by ensuring surgical teams receive correct, functional, sterile instruments. The role performs decontamination, preparation and packaging, sterilization, and dispatch, while maintaining accuracy, efficiency, courtesy, and professionalism. The position also requires continuously expanding knowledge of standards and procedures for surgical instrumentation and maintaining a strong commitment to infection control. The technician collects, cleans, decontaminates, checks, distributes, and tracks reusable equipment and supplies in accordance with department, manufacturer, and OSHA standards. Duties include inspecting, disassembling, sorting, cleaning, and processing reusable instruments and equipment; operating specialized cleaning equipment; and following manufacturer guidelines for cleaning agents and equipment use. The role identifies, inspects, and assembles general and specialty instruments, power equipment, lasers, and endoscopes according to specifications and manufacturer recommendations. It assembles complex instrument sets and surgical kits using standard operating procedures and surgical case count sheets, including complicated procedural sets such as ear, vascular, orthopedic specialty, cataract, and lap-cholecystectomy sets. The technician checks instruments for proper operation and condition, arranges repairs and sharpening when needed, selects appropriate wrapping and packaging, and prepares compact, organized packages within weight limits for effective sterilization. The technician sterilizes equipment according to department, manufacturer, and OSHA standards using applicable methods and agents, which may include steam, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, ethylene oxide, and glutaraldehyde. The role selects sterilization methods based on the materials and manufacturer instructions and prepares equipment, settings, and packaging for sterilization.

Requirements

One year of related work experience demonstrating the required job knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Obtain one of the listed central service or sterile processing certifications within 6 months: Certified and Registered Central Service Technician; Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician; Certified Sterile Processing Distribution Technician; or Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Supervisor.

Nice To Haves

Related experience preferably in an operating room, acute care hospital, or central services department.
Graduation from the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management Course.

Responsibilities

Collect and decontaminate reusable equipment, supplies, and associated storage units in accordance with department, manufacturer, and OSHA standards.
Clean, check, distribute, and track patient care equipment.
Inspect, disassemble, sort, clean, and process reusable instrumentation and equipment.
Select and operate specialized cleaning equipment and follow manufacturer recommendations for cleaning guidelines and cleaning agents.
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 appropriate items, trays, instruments, standard operating procedures, and surgical case count sheets.
Process complicated procedural sets, including ear, vascular, orthopedic specialty, cataract, and lap-cholecystectomy sets.
Inspect instruments for proper functioning and condition, including sharpness, tightness, proper jaw function, and rough edges.
Ensure broken instruments are repaired and dull instruments sharpened in a timely manner before trays or sets are submitted for sterilization.
Organize and package items compactly and logically, within proper weight limits and suitable for effective sterilization.
Inspect and select appropriate wrapping materials and sterilization packaging.
Sterilize equipment in accordance with department, manufacturer, and OSHA standards using appropriate agents and methods.
Select the sterilization method according to the materials being processed and written manufacturer instructions.
Identify items requiring gaseous sterilization and adjust temperature and timing mechanisms to allow circulation and permeation by the sterilizing medium.
Select and prepare packaging materials for sterilization of reusable instrumentation.