Sterile Processing Technician Associate

Highmark Health•Pittsburgh, PA

About The Position

This role is responsible for decontaminating, cleaning, assembling, sterilizing, and distributing surgical instruments and equipment. It ensures that surgical instrumentation and equipment are properly processed and available for use in procedural and patient care areas, in accordance with established policies, procedures, and regulatory standards. The position works under direct supervision while learning and applying sterile-processing principles to maintain a safe and effective healthcare environment. Employees must follow the company’s ethical and legal standards, behavioral expectations, Code of Business Conduct, and applicable policies and training requirements. They may have access to covered information, cardholder data, or confidential customer information and must protect it in accordance with HIPAA privacy requirements and company information-security policies. The company prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals based on protected veteran or disability status, and against individuals based on other categories protected by applicable law.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
For sterile processing technicians hired after 12/29/2020: pass a nationally accredited central service exam within 18 months of hire and maintain CRCST or CSPDT certification.
An active Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) or Tech in Surgery Certified (TSC) credential satisfies the certification requirement.

Responsibilities

Follow safety and infection-control policies, procedures, and protocols, and use personal protective equipment (PPE) as required.
Receive and sort contaminated instruments and equipment from various departments.
Disassemble instruments and clean them using appropriate cleaning agents and equipment.
Inspect cleaned instruments for cleanliness, proper function, and damage.
Assemble instrument sets according to established count sheets and tray lists.
Wrap or package instruments and sets for sterilization.
Monitor sterilization cycles and interpret printouts to confirm sterilization parameters were met.
Operate and maintain automated washing and decontamination equipment.
Load and operate appropriate sterilization equipment.
Document sterilization cycles and maintain accurate records.
Deliver sterile items to requesting departments in a timely manner.
Maintain a clean and organized work environment.
Perform other duties as assigned or requested.