Sterile Processing Technician - WMC and BGH

NYU Langone Health•Binghamton, NY

37d•$18 - $25•Hybrid

About The Position

UHS is seeking Sterile Processing Technicians I to support our Surgical Services teams at Binghamton General Hospital and Wilson Medical Center. Under general direction, the Sterile Processing Technician is responsible for performing a wide range of duties including, but not limited to, manual decontamination, operation of mechanical washers, assembly and packaging of instruments, sterilization processes, and operation of various sterilizers. This role also involves performing quality inspections of surgical instruments and equipment, as well as the ordering, tracking, and distribution of reusable surgical instrumentation and medical devices. Technicians ensure strict adherence to UHS Sterile Processing and Infection Control policies. Responsibilities include accurately interpreting, maintaining, and documenting sterilization records within the electronic instrument tracking system, as well as supporting the tracking and distribution of instrumentation across inpatient units, outpatient clinics, and off-site clinical locations. This role is essential in supporting positive patient outcomes by effectively meeting the needs of physicians, clinical teams, ancillary departments, outpatient clinics, and UHS affiliates.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent
Certification as a Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician is required within 18 months of hire (400 hours of experience required to sit for exam)

Nice To Haves

1 year previous SPD (certified or uncertified) or Operating Room experience.
Surgical inventory experience

Responsibilities

Perform equipment quality tests including but not limited to cleaning washer screen, spray arms, and daily washer protein test; sterilizer daily maintenance checks and testing.
Utilize mechanical washers, ultrasonic washers, high and low temperature sterilizers, Eto Sterilizers, instrument dryers, and other SPD related equipment.
Retrieves and receives used instruments and patient equipment from the operating room, clinical departments, ancillary areas and clinics in an aseptic manner that prevents cross contamination in the hospital and to reduce the risk of injury (exposure) to workers, (OSHA standard).
Demonstrates independent function in decontamination procedure in accordance with standard precautions.
Documents reusable medical devices when received in decontamination via instrument tracking system.
Demonstrates instrument or set washed and disinfected prior to assembly and sterilization.
Utilizes industry-leading practices effectively manual cleaning using department specific enzymatic detergents, brushes, and methods.
Dons appropriate PPE when in decontamination.
After, loads and utilize mechanical ultrasonic baths and washer disinfectors to render reusable instruments safe for handling and assembly.
Performs quality inspections on each instrument and instrument category. (I.e. Scissor sharpness test, Boroscope for cannulated instruments, residue protein checks for cleanliness, visual inspections for pitting or corrosion, rongeur punch test etc.)
Ensures procedural instrumentation, power equipment, surgical implants and patient medical devices are assembled following the manufacture IFU and appointed count sheet/recipe.
Performs quality inspections after wrapping or containerizing sets prior to sterilization.
Ensures sterility is achieved by choosing the correct method of sterilization, the correct cycle, monitoring the sterilizer function, chemically and biologically testing sterilization equipment, and interpreting/documenting mechanical and testing results.
Ensures sterility and aeration is achieved and safe practices are performed in utilizing the Ethylene Oxide Sterilization process.
Performs, observes and assesses safe work practices, regulatory compliance and emergency procedures related to the handling of Ethylene Oxide gas.
Must maintain certification (annual testing) in the safe operation of ETO sterilizers and wear personnel environment badges per policy and OSHA standard
Performs visual inspections to check for appropriate chemical indicator color change for each set or peel packed item.
Then distributes sterile instruments to respective units in an aseptic manor.
Manually clean, disinfect, store, distribute and track reusable durable medical equipment. (I.e. IV brains, modules, PCAs, SCDs, feeding pumps, hypo-hyperthermia machines etc.)
Maintains inventory and appropriate storage of sterile items and equipment in anticipation of distribution to various departments on request.
Responds to routine and STAT requests.
Distributes and re-stocks crash carts (adult and pediatric) and trauma carts.
Required to learn various instrument specialties such as General, Orthopedic, Vascular, Plastic, Cardio Thoracic, Neuro, Ophthalmic, ENT, GYN, Podiatry, Gastro Urology, Cystoscopy, Dental, Dermatology, as well as how to perform quality test per each instrument’s manufacture IFU.
View daily perioperative surgical schedule to anticipate instrument turnover needs for following procedures or next day cases.
Will perform other duties as assigned
Shadow and train under SPD Tech Level 2 or Higher until Certification is obtained.
Take part in department continuous education with return visual demonstration or graded exam.
Attend, take part, and acknowledge understanding of department huddles, education, and or meetings.
Distribute ancillary supplies to requesting units
Unbox and store supplies using the FIFO method
Checks for outdates