Overview

Under direct/indirect supervision follows approved infection control, quality assurance and departmental policies and procedures. Collects, cleans, decontaminates, disinfects and/or sterilizes surgical instrument trays, scopes, and packs, reusable medical devices and patient care equipment for inpatient nursing and other patient-care department units. Inventories, restocks and distributes instruments, reusable medical equipment and medical supplies to patient-care departments, as requested.

Responsibilities

Infection Control - Standard Precautions: Adherence to handwashing requirements, workflow patterns, standard precautions, sterility assurance, biological monitoring, and dress code. Wears appropriate personal protective equipment.

Quality Assurance Monitoring: Validates and maintains daily testing and event-related protocols, disinfection and/or sterilization load parameters and records, inventory check sheet(s), and equipment monitoring. Report all malfunctioning equipment to appropriate department.

Documentation: Meets regulatory requirements for sterilization, high level disinfection, biological monitoring, and employee competencies. Accurately document and maintain daily records of all Quality Assurance and sterilization functions according to regulatory agency and Infection Control standards.

Decontamination Skills: Decontaminates and processes instruments, including compiling instrument sets, counting instruments and recording counts.

Preparation & Packaging: According to manufacturer guidelines, selects and prepares packaging materials for the sterilization of reusable instrumentation.

Instrumentation Assembly: Identifies, inspects, and assembles all general and specialty instruments, various power equipment, laser and endoscopic instruments per specifications and manufacturer recommendations. Inspects, disassembles, sorts, cleans, and processes reusable instrumentation and equipment.

Principles of Sterilization: Selects appropriate method of sterilization, and the appropriate exposure/dry times. Properly loads and unloads sterilization cart items. Verifies that sterilization parameters have been met before distribution of load.

Workplace Safety: Demonstrates awareness of personal and work area safety at all times. Complies with hospital safety policies and procedures, including those for bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases. Takes prompt corrective actions when hazard identified (reporting or removing, as appropriate)

Maintains adequate cleaning supplies. Follows manufacturer recommendations for use of cleaning agents. As designated, order inventory assigned supply areas for replenishment, and rotate stock appropriately and stocks general and surgical carts.

Maintains a clean and orderly environment in the department by daily wiping of counters, sinks, exterior surface of autoclaves and high disinfection equipment. Cleans the autoclave chambers on a weekly basis. Assists with picking supplies/instruments for upcoming cases.

Qualifications

Education: High School Diploma, or equivalent.Experience: Two (2) years' experience, within the past four (4) years. in a Sterile Processing Department.Licenses & Certifications: Certified Sterile Processing & Distribution Technician (CSPDT) by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution; OR Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) by the International Association of Healthcare Central Service and Material Management.Required Skills & Knowledge: Must know Medical Terminology to understand instrumentation, surgical procedures, and surgical schedule. Must have knowledge of various types of reusable surgical instrumentation, including power equipment and micro surgical instrumentation. Must know how to operate Sterile Processing departmental equipment (i.e. washers, ultrasonic, steam, gas, and chemical sterilizer). Demonstrates effective written and verball communication skills with co-workers, internal, and external customers. Takes responsibility and is accountable for own professional work ethics. Demonstrate responsibility in adhering to posted work schedules