Sterile Processing Technician - Sterilization, Children's and Women's Hospital

USA Health•Mobile, AL

About The Position

The Sterile Processing Technician works in sterilization at Children's and Women's Hospital, processing reusable medical devices and equipment. The role covers decontamination, cleaning, high-level disinfection, assembly and packaging, sterilization, and storage. The technician uses approved personal protective equipment, procedures, equipment, and instrument-tracking software while following hospital and departmental policies, infection-control and safety standards, AAMI standards, and Joint Commission requirements. The position also rotates as a Scope Technician and requires regular, prompt attendance, the ability to work the defined schedule and overtime as required, and completion of mandatory department, educational, and hospital requirements. Employees in regular positions working at least 20 hours per week (0.50 FTE or greater) qualify for benefits.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
A comparable combination of education and experience may substitute for the high school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to safely move equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds and autoclave carts weighing up to 200 pounds.
Ability to stand for long periods.
Ability to work the defined schedule and overtime as required.
Regular and prompt attendance.
Ability to follow infection-control and safety standards, hospital and departmental policies, AAMI standards, and Joint Commission requirements.

Responsibilities

Receive soiled supplies and equipment from hospital departments and clinics; sort, disassemble, and select and perform the appropriate decontamination process.
Clean, maintain, and operate decontamination equipment, using approved PPE as appropriate.
Select and perform the appropriate manual or automatic high-level disinfection method for heat-sensitive instruments, equipment, and flexible endoscopes.
Document receipt and work performed promptly using tracking software.
Inspect and assemble equipment, instruments, scopes, and instrument sets according to product recipes; verify items are functional, clean, and complete.
Document missing items from instrument sets and escalate sets to a supervisor or designee for guidance.
Place the appropriate internal indicators and maintain a clean, organized work area.
Select sterilization methods and approved cycles based on package labeling, including steam and low-temperature methods as applicable.
Inspect packages for external indicators, filters, and labels; correct deficiencies before sterilization.
Load sterilizers appropriately and perform routine sterilizer testing, including biological monitoring, leak tests, and Bowie-Dick tests as appropriate.
Document sterilizer test results using tracking software and escalate positive results for intervention.
Remove and inspect sterilized items using approved methods that preserve package integrity.
Rotate as Scope Technician and safely clean and process flexible scopes.
Use proper body mechanics when moving equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds and autoclave carts weighing up to 200 pounds.
Adhere to hospital and departmental policies, infection-control and safety standards, AAMI standards, and Joint Commission requirements.
Complete mandatory department, educational, and hospital requirements; maintain regular and prompt attendance; work the defined schedule and overtime as required.
Perform other related duties as assigned.