Sterile Processing Technician II - Per Diem

Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

• Per Diem employees supplement department staffing needs, with no guarantee of minimum hours.
• Per Diem minimum scheduling expectation is four (4) shifts per four-week schedule.
  
  

Position: Sterile Processing Technician II - Per Diem

Definition

Performs decontamination, cleaning, assembling, packaging, scanning, sterilization, storage and distribution of reusable surgical/medical instrumentation and equipment.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Sterile Processing Technician II is the certified level of the Sterile Processing Technician series. Maintains a high level of surgical conscience in professional behavior demonstrating understanding and application of principles to ensure high quality decontamination, assembly and sterilization of medical/surgical supplies and instrumentation.

Essential Functions

• Demonstrates knowledge related to maintenance, cleanliness, and sterilization of instruments and equipment;
• Demonstrates awareness of appropriate sterilization method required for different instruments in accordance to manufacturer’s instructions;
• Demonstrates knowledge of high-level disinfection and sterilization of endoscopy equipment. (Maintains daily log, testing for efficacy of disinfecting solution with each cycle, performs biological tests and completes log, as per Kern Medical policies;
• Receives all soiled instrumentation and implements the appropriate decontamination process per manufacturer instructions;
• Practices Standards Precautions and utilizes required Personal Protective Equipment;
• Prepares the Decontamination and Assembly Room with supplies and equipment needed;
• Tests operational efficiency of Instrumentation prior to reprocessing and reports problems to Leadership;
• Wraps trays and individual items according to established departmental protocols. Labels each item with name and processing date;
• Monitors all instrumentation for proper sterilization prior to releasing for use;
• Places Sterilized instruments on appropriate shelving and rotates accordingly;
• Prioritizes and organizes instrumentation, equipment and supplies;
• Implements manual cleaning cycle for autoclaves and Steris machines and other sterilizing/disinfecting machines;
• Performs required quality controls e.g. Bowie Dick, DART, Biological Monitoring, Disinfecting Solution Efficacy Testing, Test Strips as indicated;
• Maintains instruments/trays/scopes inventory and associated count sheets;
• Anticipates high priority turn-arounds requests for specialized instrumentation to meet daily volume demands;
• Reviews schedule daily for case instrumentation needs; remains abreast of changes made in the OR schedule;
• Maintains a clean and orderly central processing area (e.g. shelves, counters, equipment);
• Utilizes supplies and resources in a cost effective manner;
• Appropriately handles the disposal of biohazardous materials.
  
  

Other Essential Functions

• Must possess thorough knowledge of surgical instrumentation.
• Orders, restocks, and maintains essential inventory for departmental efficiency
• Performs departmental environmental maintenance duties ensuring a clean and organized work environment;
• Communicates with Material Management and Departmental Leadership any requests for equipment maintenance, repair or replacement, and removes defective equipment.
• Maintains current knowledge of advances and current trends in Sterile Processing
• Demonstrates attention to detail by ensuring that all documentation is legible, complete, accurate, and factual.
  
  

Employment Standards

High School Diploma/GED required

Completion of an approved Sterile Processing course or equivalent Surgical Services related experience required

Sterile Processing Technician Certification Required By Either

Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) (previously known as the International Association Healthcare Central Services Material Management (IAHCSMM))

Appointees not possessing the American Heart Association Responder or Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card at time of hire must successfully complete appropriate training and qualify for the RQI Responder certification within 60 days of employment. As a continued condition of employment, employee must maintain RQI Responder certification and competency.

Supplemental

Dependent upon assignment, applicants may be required to pass an extensive background investigation, and be fingerprinted. Disqualification for felony, misdemeanor, and traffic offenses will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

All Kern County employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers” through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec. 3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2 - Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services.) As Disaster Service Workers, all county employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable following a significant emergency or disaster.

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.