Sterile Processing Technician

ORTHOCINCY • Edgewood, KY

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Sterile Processing Technician is responsible for sterilizing instruments and ensuring their proper care. The role supports the facility’s mission to provide exceptional, efficient, and cost-effective orthopaedic surgical services. The technician maintains a clean and orderly central processing area, follows facility policies and sterilization procedures, and helps maintain instrument cleanliness and working condition. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday on day shift, with no call or holiday work. The listed start date is June 2022, and the location is 3025 Dixie Highway, Edgewood, KY 41017.

The technician cleans instruments according to manufacturer instructions; inspects them for damage and proper function; lubricates items as needed; sorts, wraps, labels, and stores items; and operates sterilizers, ultrasonic washers, and other processing equipment. The role also includes monitoring sterilizers, maintaining logs and inventory records, inspecting sterile items and package integrity, updating tray inventory, and accurately documenting instruments loaned to or returned from outside sources.

The technician is expected to communicate professionally, work cooperatively with patients, visitors, physicians, coworkers, management, and administration, and contribute to facility safety, compliance, and performance-improvement programs. The position requires professional conduct, attention to patient privacy and dignity, participation in meetings and learning activities, and the ability to work with little supervision. The work takes place in a well-lit, ventilated area with complicated equipment, some of which is hazardous. The role may involve exposure to bloodborne pathogens and chemical hazards.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED certificate.
• Strong ethical and moral character references.
• Training or courses in sterile technique and sterilization of instruments.
• Cooperative work attitude toward co-employees, management, patients, visitors, and physicians.
• Ability to promote a favorable facility image with physicians, patients, insurance companies, and the general public.
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems.
• Accuracy, attention to detail, timeliness, organization, dependability, attendance, and punctuality.
• Ability to accomplish tasks with little supervision, follow instructions, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to stand and walk for long periods.
• Ability to push, pull, lift, and position equipment and patients.
• Visual and auditory acuity for use of sterilization equipment.

Nice To Haves

• Instrument processing technician experience.
• Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) experience.

Responsibilities

• Support the facility’s ideology, mission, goals, and objectives and follow its policies, procedures, and ethical standards.
• Conduct oneself professionally as a positive role model and team member; respect patients’ rights, privacy, dignity, and confidentiality.
• Participate in facility committees, meetings, in-services, inventory, and activities, and maintain professional relationships with management and medical staff.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with patients, visitors, physicians, and coworkers, and interact respectfully and considerately.
• Use facility resources appropriately, avoid and report wasteful practices, and recommend cost-effective improvements.
• Contribute to and follow the organization’s compliance and performance-improvement programs, including collecting data and identifying opportunities to improve performance and quality of care.
• Follow safety and risk-management procedures and report safety violations, hazards, or noncompliance.
• Participate in continuing education, share relevant knowledge with staff, maintain membership in relevant professional organizations, and seek learning opportunities.
• Maintain a clean and orderly central processing area.
• Follow sterilization process policies and procedures and clean each item according to manufacturer instructions.
• Inspect instruments for damage or defects, lubricate items as needed, and determine whether items are in good working condition.
• Sort and arrange items into proper trays, wrap trays and individual items, label items with names and expiration dates, and place items in correct locations.
• Correctly operate sterilizers, ultrasonic washers, and other processing equipment; position items correctly, select the proper cycle, and seek assistance when needed.
• Check equipment indicators and perform required biological and chemical monitoring tests on all sterilizers; maintain logs and recording supplies.
• Maintain inventory levels and accurate records, including supply inventory and instrument tray inventory lists.
• Perform weekly inspections of sterile items; check for expired items and package integrity, and replace items as necessary.
• Accurately document the count of instruments loaned to or returned from outside sources.
• Maintain instrument cleanliness and working condition.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED