Sterilization Technician

Sterilization Technician

The Sterilization Technician primary job function is to be responsible for all dental and medical instrument sterilization in accordance with WISHA/OSHA and Joint Commission guidelines.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Under general supervision, this position performs a wide variety of tasks related to inventory, decontamination, inspection, maintenance and assembly, sterilization, and coordinated dispensing of general and specialized surgical devices, reusable instrumentation and equipment, such as:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the FHC Mission and the supportive role of the CSR Department and staff in contributing to accomplishment of FHC's customer service, clinical and financial goals.
• Identify unsafe conditions/practice.
• Must be familiar with and practice safety, infection control and employee health policies and standards.
• Identify their own education needs and complete all mandatory training.
• Participate in error reporting and correction and continuous improvement of system processes and staff and department performance.
• Demonstrate knowledge of patient care areas, the dental instruments and medical devices they use, their collective and individual needs, concerns and expectations.
• Instrument inventory and alert team leaders if additional instrumentation will need to be acquired.
• Provide excellent Customer Service, partnering with, and offering assistance, guidance to internal and external customers, as well as service recovery when there's a complaint.
• Actively participate in identification of educational needs of individuals, the department and customer staff.
• Provide assistance to clinics in determining and accessing needed instruments, standardizing with other providers, reducing new purchases with exchanges of surplus, and optimizing access of a clinics inventory through set up of centralized storage.
• Per established procedures, follow Infection Control standards and use prudent judgment:
• Deliver, pick up and receive reusable instruments and equipment assuring items are complete and handled to prevent damage or loss.
• Disassemble, clean, disinfect and sterilize reusable instruments and medical devices per MIFU's.
• Reassemble, inspect and test all multi-part devices assuring they are complete and will function safely and as expected.
• Assemble, package, process and store medical supplies, instruments and equipment. Distribute reprocessed products.
• Operate department equipment safely. Use and check performance indicators to assure proper function and initiate corrective action if malfunction is identified.
• Perform and document sterilizer cycles, assuring parameters for sterilization are met. Challenge sterilizer performance with chemical and biological indicators. Initiate a recall or stop a process if potentially incomplete or unsafe for patient use.
• Maintenance of a clean and fully stocked inventory:
• Immediately alert supply personnel when low stock situations develop.
• Adherence to Joint Commission stringent infection controls when turning over operatories.
• Promptly sterilize dirty instruments throughout the day.
• Adheres to Joint Commission guidelines for the sterilization process and maintenance on dental and medical equipment.
• Instrument sterilization:
• Follow OSHA and Joint Commission safety regulations;
• Use/update organizations resource for all sterilization guidelines
• Package instrument cassettes according to procedure – wrap / bag instrument sets;
• Operate / maintain autoclave sterilizers;
• Perform sterilization testing procedures.
• Manage all required sterilization logs and documentation
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Ability to access and complete data entry and run basic reports in the Electronic Dental Record (EDR), Electronic Practice Management (EPM), and Electronic Health Record (EHR) programs. Ability to prepare correspondence and reports in Microsoft applications. Ability to access web-based applications and programs of others.

Education & Experience:

The position requires basic reading, writing, and math skills acquired during completion of a high school degree or GED.