Sterile Processing Tech (SPT)

Creating Life Better Here Starts With You

At San Juan Regional Medical Center, we're more than a healthcare provider—we're a values-driven organization dedicated to delivering exceptional care. As a team member, you help fulfill our mission to make life better here for our community.

The Sterile Processing Technician (certified and non-certified) provides the foundation of the peri-operative services as well as most clinical departments throughout the hospital and within the community. This foundation is provided by effective decontamination, assembly, wrapping, sterilization, and quality control of items needed for safe, effective and personalized patient care.

Required Behaviors:

• As you go about fulfilling this mission, your work habits and work relationships should embody SJRMC's values. These values are our culture, our identity as an organization: Sacred Trust, Personal Reverence, Thoughtful Anticipation, Team Accountability and Creative Vitality ask more of us than merely completing some list of tasks. Our values ask for a deeper level of commitment, and what is asked of us we freely give because we believe in our mission.

Required Qualifications:

• High School diploma or equivalent
• Valid New Mexico Drivers license and a driving record free of un-insurable violations
• Good communication skills
• PC literate
• Completion of competencies and cross training to the EDC within sixty (60) days
• Ability to meet physical demands as stated in Physical Demands and Environmental Work Conditions at the end of this purpose description

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior knowledge of basic principles of sterilization and disinfection, and recent work experience as a Central Sterile Tech (within a two-year period)
• Certification upon hire or within eighteen (18) months of hire date

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Will maintain certification (if applicable) with continuous education offerings
• Cleans and decontaminates instruments and supplies for sterilization and storage and/or direct return to using unit
• Performs routine collection of soiled instruments from all using units at pre-scheduled intervals
• Distributes clean supplies and instruments to all using units at pre-scheduled intervals or when requested
• May be required to work other shifts as needed by the department
• Operates and cleans all processing equipment: Washer/Decontaminator; Steam Sterilizer; Sterrad Sterilizer; Cart Washer; Package sealer; and carts for washer and sterilizers
• Performs the following Quality Control Procedures: Biological monitoring, Chemical Monitoring; and the mechanical indicators on sterilizing units in CSPD and OR
• Maintains established Departmental Policies and Procedures, Objectives, Quality Assurance Programs, Safety, Environmental and Infection Control Standards
• Maintains departmental records
• Inspects stores or assembles all textiles used for the sterilization process
• Fills surgical case carts and processes according to procedure. Maintains record keeping process of all supplies issued by CSPD from the ORM inventory.
• Informs supervisor of inventory levels concerning raw materials, sterile reusable, and disposable single use items
• Monitors and restocks supplies for CSPD and non-inventory items
• Receives orders for CSPD and ORM inventories
• Assigned to the Operating Room
• Attends classes, meetings, workshops, in-services, and staff development. Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, films, etc.
• Each employee is responsible for implementing SJRMC’s Service Standards into their daily work: Safety, Courtesy, Effectiveness, and Stewardship
• Other duties as assigned

Physical Demands and Environmental Work Conditions:

• All Sterile Processing Services positions may place heavy physical demands on the employee. The amount of time that the employee is exposed to these demands will fluctuate, as there are uncontrollable variables inherent in Sterile Processing and EDC

Physical Activities:

• All Sterile Processing Services positions may require lifting (not to exceed fifty (50) pounds) pushing/pulling varying weights, (may exceed two hundred (200) pounds).
• Activities may include intermittent or prolonged: standing, walking, sitting, talking, pushing, pulling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching with arms
• Repetitive motions may also be required, such as: wrist/hand movements, grasping, and finger dexterity (as in typing, writing, faxing, filing papers, etc.)

Work Environment:

• The job requires the risk of exposure to the following environmental conditions: hazardous chemicals, anesthetic agents, body fluids and waste, blood borne diseases, infectious and contagious diseases, risk of electrical/mechanical shock, risk of burns and cuts
• Exposure to unpleasant patient or unit elements, (i.e. accidents, injuries and severe illnesses)
• The noise level may vary from very quiet to very loud
• Exposure to all weather conditions and elements when delivering to offsite facilities

Sensory Requirements:

The employee will need to be able to hear:

• Alarms on equipment / fire alarms / overhead announcements
• Instructions / feedback from other healthcare providers

The employee will need to be able to see:

• See and focus on close-up and distant objects
• Distinguish colors
• Have intact: peripheral vision and depth perception.