Sterile Processing Technician

The Sterile Processing Technician I is responsible for properly decontaminating, assembling, and sterilizing medical equipment and instruments in order to comply with safety standards and provide quality patient care.

Essential Job Function

• Support team members with dissembling, assembling, packaging and sterilization as needed.
• Has comprehensive knowledge of disassembling, assembling, packaging and sterilization.
• Exhibits knowledge in determining the methods to be used to care for instruments: hand washing, mechanical washing, or high-level disinfection, especially in the removal of protein and corrosion and in the sorting for repair.
• Supports team members to ensure appropriate cleaning of mobile patient equipment.
• Inspects important points in instruments and equipment to ensure they are functioning properly and there is no damage.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the function and operation of the decontamination equipment for optimum cleaning, loading, temperature and troubleshooting if malfunctions.
• Monitors quality control and identifies quality problems and proactively corrects them prior to the product leaving the department.
• Performs biological monitoring to ensure quality and efficacy of the sterilization equipment.
• Ensures all instruments and decontamination equipment are tested for bioburden residual.
• Participates in a proactive quality assurance program randomly audits sample trays following established protocol documenting failures to ensure quality on the end product.
• Ensures that all records and documentation are properly compiled and maintained (such as sterilization records, temperature recording, etc) Demonstrates the ability to perform and interpret efficacy test results for the sterilization process, high-level disinfection, and washer decontaminators.
• Understand protocols for releasing instrumentation after sterilization and complete all required tests and documentation before a tray is released for use.
• Follows up if there are variations in the process.
• Accurately fills supply requests from the procedural areas and ensures items ordered are delivered speedily to the correct unit.
• Actively participates in maintaining established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, and quality improvement, safety, and environmental and infection control standards.
• Proactively works with team and other departments to ensure effective and efficient patient care.
• Demonstrates flexibility in thinking and actions, understanding team dynamics.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or equivalentPreferred: Associate''s Degree

Experience

• Preferred: Six months of experience in a hospital environment or sterile processing department

Licensure/Certification/Listing