STERILE SERVICES TECH - STERILE PROCESSING

Status Full Time Shift 230-11 M_F rotating weekends Exempt No

Summary The Sterile Services Technician provides vital support to all areas of patient care and interacts with personnel from all areas of the hospital and clinic network. The department is the center of all activity involving supplies and equipment needed for surgery and other patient care areas.

Education High school diploma or equivalent is required. Preferred Experience: Training:

• Medical assistant PCT or EMT training with 2 years work experience in a healthcare field
• Nursing assistant training
• One year experience sterile technician
• One year of college required.

Physical Demands Strength

• Medium Push
• Frequently Pull
• Frequently Carry
• Frequently Lift
• Frequently Sit
• Occasionally Stand
• Constantly Walk
• Frequently

Responsibilities The Sterile Services Technician will be responsible for the following tasks and knowledge necessary to perform his/her duties.

Cleaning, Decontamination, and Disinfection

• Demonstrates knowledge of departmental safety standards.
• Demonstrates knowledge of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Demonstrates knowledge of Temperature and Humidity standards.
• Prepares work area for decontamination.
• Demonstrates proper technique in performing quality tests.
• Operates and troubleshoots cleaning equipment.
• Differentiates disposable items from non-disposable items.
• Prepares items for decontamination.
• Cleans and decontaminates non-disposable items, equipment, and instruments.
• Selects appropriate disinfectant.
• Transfers items to preparation area.
• Extensive knowledge of all decontamination equipment:
  1. Washer disinfectors
  2. AGS System
  3. Cart washers
  4. Sonic washers
  5. <

     Preparation and Packaging

     • Ensures Temperature and Humidity standards.
     • Prepares the work area for packaging.
     • Receives items for preparation.
     • Inspects items for cleanliness and functionality.
     • Selects items for assembly.
     • Assembles items for packing.
     • Selects appropriate packaging method.
     • Extensive knowledge of sterilization processes:
       1. Steamhi vac
       2. Hydrogen peroxide plasma
       3. <
       4. Extensive knowledge of IFU.

       5. Documentation and Record Maintenance

          • Maintains records per departmental policies.
          • Performs quality tests per departmental policies.
          • Completes hospital incidents via Quantros.
          • Reports employee incidents to manager and documents per hospital policy.
          • Working knowledge of TDoc system and appropriate usage.

          Sterilization Process

          • Demonstrates knowledge of Temperature and Humidity standards and what to report if not within parameters.
          • Prepares work area for sterilization.
          • Performs sterilizer tests per departmental policy.
          • Receives items for sterilization.
          • Operates sterilizer demonstrating how to select and change the cycle, appropriate use of external indicators, and internal indicators.
          • Demonstrates understanding of pre-sterilization package integrity.
          • Demonstrates understanding of how to load sterilizers.
          • Unloads sterilizer using proper body mechanics, ergonomics, and traffic flow, and PPE.
          • Inspects package integrity post sterilization process.
          • Interprets test results and process failure.
          • Documents sterilization load contents.
          • Transfers sterilized items to storage and distribution.

          Customer Relations

          • Responds courteously to customer requests.
          • Communicates effectively.
          • Demonstrates knowledge of medical terminology.
          • Participates on internal and external teams to problem solve issues.

          Staff Engagement

          • Demonstrates where and how to access facility and departmental policies and procedures and is accountable for this information.

          Sterile Storage and Inventory Management

          • Demonstrates understanding of Temperature and Humidity and what to do if not within parameters.
          • Assists to keep work areas clean and tidy.
          • Orders inventory as appropriate.
          • Receives and inspects inventory.
          • Stocks and rotates supplies.
          • Distributes sterile and non-sterile items.
          • Monitors usage and tracks inventory per T-doc.
          • Disposes of inventory per hospital guidelines.

          Patient Care Equipment

          • Receives equipment from the Operating Room, clinics, and all other patient care areas to be decontaminated and processed.
          • Receives and follows process for recording and tracking rental equipment or loaners.
          • Inspects equipment for cleanliness and functionality.
          • Follows directions for assembly, care, and handling of equipment, including battery charging or replacement.
          • Stores equipment per departmental guidelines.
          • Distributes equipment timely and to appropriate departments.
          • Follows processes for reporting repair and safety inspection needs to Biomed.

          Other

          • Precepts new employees as needed.
          • Performs other duties as required.
          • Follows North Oaks Health Systems Compliance Program and Federal and State Regulatory Guidelines and Policy Procedures.

          Maintain an employment record in accordance with hospital policy.

          • Complies with attendance policies.
          • Reports all accidents and injuries.
          • Adheres to acceptable dress code.
          • Shares in the responsibility of providing on-call coverage as needed.