Sterile Processing Technician Senior

Highmark Health•Erie, PA

About The Position

The Senior Sterile Processing Technician is a highly skilled and experienced professional with a deep understanding of sterile processing principles, regulatory standards, and best practices for decontaminating, cleaning, assembling, sterilizing, and distributing surgical instruments and equipment. The technician serves as a technical expert, mentor, and resource for other staff, helping ensure high-quality, safe, and efficient sterile processing services. The role includes handling contaminated instruments, operating and troubleshooting cleaning and sterilization equipment, inspecting and assembling instruments, monitoring and documenting sterilization cycles, and delivering sterile items to departments. The employee must follow safety, infection-control, privacy, information-security, and business-conduct requirements.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Two years of experience with sterile processing.
At hire, hold a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) or Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) certification. This requirement does not apply to Sterile Processing Technicians employed by a healthcare facility on or before 12/29/2020.
An active Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) or Tech in Surgery Certified (TSC) credential meets the certification requirement.

Responsibilities

Serve as a technical resource and mentor for other sterile processing technicians by providing guidance, training, and support.
Assist with training new employees on department procedures and equipment.
Independently disassemble instruments and clean them using appropriate cleaning agents and equipment.
Operate and maintain automated washing and decontamination equipment, and troubleshoot complex equipment issues.
Inspect cleaned instruments for cleanliness, proper function, and damage.
Receive and sort contaminated instruments and equipment from various departments.
Assemble complex instrument sets according to established count sheets and tray lists.
Wrap or package instruments and sets for sterilization.
Load and operate appropriate sterilization equipment and troubleshoot complex issues as needed.
Monitor sterilization cycles and interpret printouts to ensure proper sterilization parameters were met.
Document sterilization cycles and maintain accurate records.
Deliver sterile items to requesting departments in a timely manner and prioritize urgent requests.
Maintain a clean and organized work environment.
Follow safety and infection-control policies, procedures, and protocols, and use required personal protective equipment.
Perform other duties as assigned or requested.