Lead Central Sterile Processing Technician

UPMC East Hospital is searching for an evening Lead Central Sterile Processing Technician!

Join our dynamic team at East, a suburban facility that offers a comprehensive experience akin to a large teaching institution. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional services in ortho, neuro, robotics, flexible scopes, and more. Our facility is a hub of innovation and excellence, making it an exciting place to grow your career.

This role is eligible to receive a sign-on bonus up to $5,000! Bonuses are paid in one-time installments within your first 90 days and require a 2-year work agreement to remain with UPMC. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the sterile processing department, while working evening shifts primarily 2pm-10:30pm Monday-Friday, ensuring compliance with all safety and sterilization protocols. During these evening hours, earn an extra $1.60 more per hour for our night differential! 
• Collaborate with staff and production leadership across multiple key services, including ortho, neuro, robotics, flexible scopes, and external customers.
• Lead and mentor a team of sterile processing technicians, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation related to sterilization processes and equipment maintenance.

Qualifications:

• 3 years of sterile processing experience or 2 years experience & a graduate of an accredited Surgical Technician/Sterile Processing program
• Sterile Processing Certification is required.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

What Sets Us Apart:

• Exposure to a wide range of key services and cutting-edge technologies.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development within a supportive and innovative team.
• A suburban facility that provides the diverse experience of a large teaching institution.

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• Be part of a team that values excellence, innovation, and collaboration.
• Gain exposure to multiple key services and work with a diverse group of professionals.
• Enjoy the benefits of working in a suburban facility with the resources and opportunities of a larger institution.

The Lead Central Sterile Processing Technician performs duties necessary for the proper decontamination, cleaning, inspection, assembly, packaging, sterilization, storage, distribution and documentation of reusable surgical instrumentation and equipment according to established procedures. Assumes responsibility and coordinates assignments for daily operation of the department. Coordinates the orientation of new personnel. Assume charge responsibilities in the absence of the department director. Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Responsibilities:

• Independently run the department on off-shifts and week-ends or in the absence of the director.
• Conforms and adheres to department policies concerning decontamination, sterile processing, infection control and safety.
• Arranges in-service education programs
• Performs other related duties as assigned by authorized personnel or as may be required to meet emergency situations
• Demonstrates knowledge of performance improvement tools and techniques. Continuously improves the quality of care and the work environment of outcomes and the integration of research and best practices into daily work. Shares learning from improvements with other units and/or spreads across the business unit or system.
• Prepares and assembles surgical tray and equipment following established tray listings for issue, storage, or further processing
• Maintains a working knowledge of, and is able to effectively troubleshoot, all decontamination/sterilization equipment
• Acts as liaison between SPD and OR.
• Evaluates staff schedule and re-assigns staff according to departmental needs.
• Demonstrates UPMC's commitment to the Core Values by understanding the needs of patients, their families, physicians, and co-workers and doing what is required the first time, every time by being responsible, sensitive, accurate, timely, coordinated and thorough. Assist in the orientation of new personnel
• Participates on committees and task forces
• Communicates appropriately using good interpersonal skills. Serves, manages, and supports internal and external customers. Develops and improves skills through initiative, attendance and participation at educational programs.
• Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by building teams and relationships through mentoring and modeling uplifting and positive communication. Coaches colleagues on cultural diversity and addresses workplace horizontal violence and impairment. Demonstrates accountability to self and others for safe work hours, time management and healthy lifestyles.
• Assesses supplies required for prescribed standard surgical procedures and sets up case carts. maintains inventory, collects, disassembles, inspects, cleans, disinfects and reassembles all instrument trays patient care equipment
• Participates in the orientation of new associates.
• Models team behaviors to frontline employees
• Develops management skills through completion of Human Resource Journey to Management course and one additional management seminar
• Assists manager with performance appraisals
• Monitors, reads, documents, and interprets all parameters for all types of sterilizers to ensure proper function.Remains highly accessible and visible for proactive troubleshooting and problem-solving across the OR and Sterile Processing Department.
• Serves as the resource for information for employees and customers
• Cleans and decontaminates reusable equipment, instruments, and supplies, manually and mechanically.
• Independently manage the department on off-shifts and week-ends or in the absence of the manager
• Demonstrates accountability for professional development that improves the quality of professional practice and the quality of patient care. Makes recommendations for the improvement of clinical care and the health of the workplace and welcomes and participates in change initiatives. Leads by investing and building healthy relationships among colleagues and other disciplines. Shows the ability to set priorities. Serves as an engaged member of a team supporting colleagues in service to ancillary departments and may participate in task forces or other initiatives.
• Participates in the coordination of all aspects of department's services
• Assumes responsibility for a surgical specialty ensuring that instrumentation is available and maintained in optimum working condition. Assumes shared responsibility and coordination of all ordering of instrumentation in collaboration with the Operating Room, updating of all count sheets within the instrument tracking system, ensures that instrumentation sets missing critical components are returned to circulation in a timely fashion. Serves as a resource for the instrument tracking system. Assists in the coordination of streamlining and consolidation of instrumentation sets to improve the throughout performance of Sterile Reprocessing. Assists in the reduction rate of surgical instrument errors and collaborates with department leadership team to institute a streamlined same-day turnaround from instrument processing.
• Demonstrates interest in the development of others and positively impacts the lives of patients/families, peers, and members of the healthcare team through mentoring, education, and knowledge sharing. Actively participates in the role of preceptor for student Sterile processing technicians and assists with the development of new preceptors in their role. Mentors and role models quest for continuous learning through formal education and the development of others. Seeks opportunities to share expertise with other members of the healthcare team within and beyond the clinical unit/department.
• Collects, stores and arranges for permanent storage of required records
• Displays awareness of cost containment in the organization of work by using economy in time, motion and material. Participates in the development of performance improvement activities. Participates as a team member and is accountable for own work responsibilities.
• Practices solid verbal and written communication skills, and is able to articulate and translate to other care providers and to negotiate and make recommendations for changes in unit practices Documentation is comprehensive and promotes communication between caregivers. Demonstrates critical thinking in the analysis of clinical, social, safety, psychological and spiritual issues. Incorporates national professional organization as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality and satisfaction of the patient experience in daily work. Creates a caring and compassionate patient focused experience by building healing relationships with colleagues. Disseminates new knowledge and innovations through presentations, posters, and publications.