Surgical Sterile Processing Technician

Surgical Sterile Processing Technician

Worland, Wyoming

Department Name: Surg-Hosp

Work Shift: Varied

Job Category: Clinical Care

Banner Health was recently recognized on Forbes inaugural list of America's Dream Employers 2025. This list highlights employers across the country that prioritize workplace excellence and the happiness, satisfaction, wellbeing and fulfillment of their employees.

Explore and excel. Washakie Medical Center seeks to transform the lives of those we serve by fostering the highest level of health and wellness in our community and across our region and state. Whether you're coming in with experience, or just learning the health care industry, Banner Health is a great place to develop and grow your career.

The Sterile Processing Department (SPD) in a highly regulated department that services every unit in the hospital. The goal is to be prepared for each and every case that walks through the doors of our facility. As we move forward with trauma, the complexity of the department will continue to increase as we strive to meet the needs of our growing case volumes and need for quick turnovers. Our ability to maintain stability with our outside units is also a priority in addition to meeting the demanding regulatory requirements. The high demands of a very busy OR require the ability to adapt and make reasonable and quick decision making.

As the Surgical Sterile Processing Technician, you are responsible for sterilizing necessary surgical tools and equipment, along with following all regulatory procedures to prepare our OR with the necessary cleanliness and tools needed to safely conduct each case along with other oversight of proper procedures.

This position at our Washakie Medical Center, is a Full-Time Varied Shift position with a schedule of Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:30pm with a require call and weekend rotation.

Your pay and benefits (Total Rewards) are important components of your Journey at Banner Health. Banner Health offers a variety of benefit plans to help you and your family. We provide health and financial security options so you can focus on being the best at what you do and enjoying you.

With a 50-year tradition of quality caring, Washakie Medical Center in Worland, Wyo. is a 18-bed critical access hospital with "big city" capabilities. This includes a 64-slice CT scanner, 3D tomosynthesis mammography, 1.5 tesla MRI, Ultrasound, fluro, electronic medical records and a full service, state-of-the-art lab. Our trauma ED is staffed with full-time physicians and our surgery services include 24/7 CRNA coverage including OB epidurals, two general surgeons, orthopedic surgery, and ambulatory treatment. In addition, we provide a variety of wellness activities and feature an active rehab department. Worland sits in the Bighorn Basin area of Wyoming. We are situated 30 minutes from the Bighorn mountains, Wind River Canyon and an easy drive to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Your time outdoors can be spent in some of the most scenic areas of the country.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position selects and places surgical instruments, supplies and equipment during surgery. Scrubs and provides instruments, sutures, and other sterile supplies during surgical procedure. In addition, is responsible for the proper care and handling of all general and specialty instruments including the cleaning, assembly, preparation, and sterilization of surgical instrumentation.

CORE FUNCTIONS

1. Prepares for surgical procedures. Pulls appropriate instruments and supplies and ensures good working order of instruments. Reviews case carts for correct instruments and supplies. Plans ahead for upcoming surgical case needs.

2. Anticipates the surgeon's needs. Passes instruments, retracts tissue and operates equipment during surgery.

3. Demonstrates the principles of aseptic technique and universal precautions throughout the procedure. Disposes of sharps and trash and places used supplies into case cart for processing. Participates in counting of sharps, instruments and sponges. Prepares instruments for cleaning following each case.

4. Decontaminates, assembles and packages all instruments following established protocols as well as perform necessary repairs, reassembles and stores specialized surgical instruments. Prepares all order requests as necessary for replacement parts for instruments and additional equipment as necessary or upon request of physicians.

5. Assembles general surgical instrument trays, power equipment sets and all implant systems in accordance with the specifications on the inventory sheets. Inspects instruments to ensure they are in good working condition, removing and placing damaged instruments in the repair box. Determines the priority level of instrument sets and single instruments to be processed following established protocols.

6. Utilizes Standard Precautions, thoroughly decontaminating and separating surgical instrument sets, power equipment, OR case carts, implant systems, patient care equipment and all other reusable items returned to Central Sterile Processing workroom. Communicates needs for equipment maintenance and replacement and assists in process of all directly related supplies. Communicates with all customers as to the availability of instrumentation as needed for procedures.

7. Loads and operates washer decontaminators, ultrasonic cleaners, cart washers, steam gun and heat sealers and all other equipment used in the decontamination process. Maintains a clean and safe environment by adhering to Standard Precautions and Infection Control practices.

8. Ensures that all surgeon preference cards and pick lists are accurate. Assists with OR turnover between cases and transporting patients. Assist and support anesthesia services. Participates in stocking, replenishing supplies and cleaning operating rooms.

9. This position follows safety procedures in regards to medication labeling, appropriate handling of specimens, appropriate handling of sharps, time-out procedure, radiation and laser safety, infection control, assembling and disassembling instruments. Participates in emergency call rotation.

Internal customers are patients, surgeons, and nursing staff. External customers may include practicing physicians and patient families.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High school diploma/GED or equivalent working knowledge and current basic life support certification.

The position requires manual dexterity and the ability to maintain professional decorum in highly stressful emergent situations. The position requires the ability to be conscientious, organized, and orderly and the ability to respond quickly to the needs of the surgeon and patient. Must stay abreast of new developments in the field.

Requires knowledge of surgical instrumentation, patient related supplies, materials, equipment, aseptic and sterilization techniques. Must have mechanical aptitude with the ability to break down moving parts, clean, lubricate and reassemble, problem solve incomplete trays and missing instrumentation and have effective organizational, communication and human relation skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from a certified school of surgical technology or 2 years of operating room experience. SPD sterile processing experience preferred. Additional related education and/or experience preferred.