Surgical Services Instrument and Equipment Coordinator: Full Time, Sterile Processing Department

Jefferson Health Plans•Philadelphia, PA

20d•Onsite

About The Position

The Surgical Services Instrument Coordinator coordinates and manages surgical instrumentation, loaners, and equipment to support daily operations in operating rooms and procedural areas. The role oversees owned, consigned, and loaned instrument-tray and equipment inventory; manages instrument and loaner tracking software, including troubleshooting, data entry, and staff education; and collaborates with Surgical Services and other unit leaders on allocation and maintenance. The coordinator also works with the Educator and Manager on policies and procedures related to instruments and loaners. The position supports instrument purchasing, inventory, repair, maintenance, and tracking-system upkeep; coordinates inventory and par levels; and collaborates with OR staff to ensure sufficient instrumentation. When providing operational support within the OR, the coordinator serves as a central contact between nursing and sterile processing, evaluates unmet needs, coordinates reprocessing plans, monitors schedule changes, and communicates potential shortages. Additional work includes sterile-goods inspection and delivery, inventory control, ordering, support of the case-pick process, service-line improvement activities, project planning, and onboarding new team members as appropriate.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
Graduate of a certified sterile processing technician training program.
Two years of sterile processing and/or operating room experience, including surgical technician experience.
Less than one year of experience managing inventory, preferably surgical instrument inventory.
Less than one year of experience with Microsoft Office applications.
Less than one year of experience with enterprise software such as EMR, HIS, ORIS, or SPIS.
Knowledge of patient- and family-centered practice, including respectful collaboration with patients, families, and designated care partners.
Cultural awareness and ability to convey respect and connect effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Effective communication skills, including the ability to transmit, receive, and accurately interpret information and use partnership-oriented language with patients and families.
Knowledge of inventory management strategies, practices, and tools.
Knowledge of common healthcare equipment and devices and their use in patient care.
Knowledge of decontamination processes for chemical exposure and removal of visible microorganisms.
Knowledge of infection control, patient safety, error prevention, and industry standards related to operating rooms and sterile processing.
Accuracy and attention to detail.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Knowledge of operating-room management policies, procedures, and methods used to maximize efficiency and productivity.
Obtain CIS (Certified Instrument Specialist) certification through the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association within one year.
CRCST (Certified and Registered Central Service Technician) certification through the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association.
Ability to read and communicate in English.
Ability to lift and carry 40–50 pounds; frequent to continuous standing and walking. The description also notes that patient-care providers may need to kneel, bend, squat, and perform CPR, and that patient transporters may walk 8–10 miles per shift.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in administration or healthcare.
Bachelor’s degree in administration or healthcare.
Less than one year of experience conducting financial and statistical analyses.
Less than one year of knowledge of regulatory-agency standards used to assure departmental compliance.
Less than one year of experience using LEAN tools and methods.

Responsibilities

Interact with co-workers, visitors, and other staff consistent with Jefferson’s values.
Recognize patients and their family or designated care partners and support safe, compassionate, coordinated care that respects their preferences, priorities, needs, and cultural beliefs and values.
Communicate with and support the interprofessional team, patients, families, and designated care partners.
Maintain and effectively use the instrument and loaner tracking system, including software, EMR interfaces, system builds, count sheets, reports, par-level identification, and tracking of equipment and instruments across departments.
Collect, analyze, synthesize, and present data to leadership to support positive change.
Manage the Loaner Instruments/Trays Program.
Coordinate instrument management functions, including purchasing, inventory, repair, maintenance, and tracking-system maintenance.
Coordinate instrument inventory and assist with ordering and maintaining par levels.
Collaborate with OR staff to ensure sufficient instrumentation is available.
When assigned to work directly in the OR, serve as a central point of contact between nursing and sterile processing/case cart teams to maintain timely information transfer.
Work with SPCC Clinical Operations, OR Nursing Team Supervisors, and nursing staff to assess daily unmet instrument and supply needs and source alternatives or sterilization methods when appropriate.
Coordinate reprocessing plans with SPCC Supervisors as surgical timelines change and communicate plans to nursing resources.
Monitor the OR schedule, anticipate sterile instrument shortages, and proactively alert nursing and SPCC Operations when items may be unavailable for scheduled use.
Participate in service-line update meetings; collect and compile incident documentation, provide project updates, and identify workflow-improvement opportunities.
Deliver sterile items, manage materials, and support other related functions.
Inspect sterile single-use and reusable goods for expiration dates and package integrity, periodically and as requested.
Operate OR sterilizers when clinically acceptable and facilitate delivery of packaged sterile goods when available.
Assist with inventories and initiate in-house or outside orders in accordance with par levels as needed.
Apply inventory-control practices, including stock rotation and removal of expired inventory.
Participate in project planning and implementation by recommending inventory modifications aligned with OR usage.
Support and supplement the case-pick process as operationally necessary or as directed by leadership.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Participate in onboarding new team members as appropriate for the campus.

Benefits

Medical insurance, including prescription coverage.
Supplemental insurance.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Life and AD&D insurance.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Flexible spending accounts.
Retirement plans.
Tuition assistance.
Voluntary benefits, including access to group insurance rates and discounts.
Tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full-time service or two years of part-time service.
Medical insurance, including prescription coverage, is available to all colleagues, including those working less than part-time.