Sterile Processing Coordinator

At Houston Methodist, the Sterile Processing Coordinator position will oversee and coordinate the activities of the Sterile Processing department and service line, as appropriate, to include ensuring new employees are properly oriented and trained, monitoring work flow and volume of the work, and reviewing and maintaining department supply needs. This position is responsible for the monthly schedule and daily shift assignments, staff performance evaluation feedback to the appropriate manager, and assists in the development of the departmental budget. This position is responsible for coordinating the daily activities and personnel involved with decontamination, inspection, assembly, packaging, reprocessing and sterilization of instrumentation and assembly of case carts for the unit. The Sterile Processing Coordinator will maintain consistent and continuous workflow between the Operating Room (OR) and Sterile Processing and is responsible for assisting Manager in meeting all regulatory requirements for the unit related to these activities.

FLSA STATUS

Non-exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)

EXPERIENCE

• Six years of Sterile Processing experience in an acute care hospital

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Required

• Sterile Processing certification: CSCST or CSPDT and
• Instrument Specialist certification: CIS or CSIS

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Advanced knowledge of infection control, decontamination, and sterilization techniques
• Knowledge and ability to operate, troubleshoot, and train staff on all departmental equipment including, but no limited to, sterilizers, washers, ultrasonic washers, and cart washers.
• Independently demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Proficiency in utilization of basic computer programs such as Microsoft Office and electronic instrument tracking system, if applicable.
• Utilizes all departmental equipment according to manufacturers’ instructions for use and departmental polices and protocols
• Demonstrates proper phone etiquette when responding to inquiries made to the department
• Completes departmental and institutional competencies within established required timelines.
• Maintains patient and family privacy

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates and assigns, based on the acuity level of the Technician, processing services that are efficiently organized. Ensures instruments and supplies are decontaminated and reprocessed in a timely manner. Serves as the primary resource for staff in all areas of service that the department performs.
• Serves as a role model and mentor, facilitating teamwork, working in conjunction with the OR staff, to provide timely sterile products, trays, and case carts where applicable. Maintains consistent and continuous workflow between the OR and Sterile Processing.
• Communicates in an active, positive, and effective manner to all interprofessional health care team members, listens and responds to the ideas of others. Coaches staff in effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication. Initiates recommendations, collaborating with management, for improvement of employee engagement score.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates the daily interface between sterile processing, surgery, and materials management as well as other departments within and outside of Houston Methodist to ensure that supplies and instruments are available as needed for service lines, as appropriate. Partners with SP Liaison to prepare items in advance for the following day’s OR needs.
• Anticipates needs by ensuring that all supplies or instrumentation not routinely available within the department are obtained and ready prior to scheduled surgery cases.
• Plans and monitors staffing levels to ensure appropriate staffing at all times to provide excellent service. Regulates scheduling and department staff assignments based on the needs of the department. Provides daily reporting to management of needs, issues to be addressed, and all important information necessary to ensure department success.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as the primary quality assurance resource for the department through periodic set audits. Reviews and revises, as appropriate, policies and procedures which reflect knowledge of industry standards and recommended practices for sterile processing. Assures department performance follows Houston Methodist policies and procedures and guidelines/standards from pertinent regulatory agencies.
• Continuously assures the effectiveness of the sterilization process by using internal, external and biological monitoring systems appropriately, utilizing established department protocols and sterilizer manufacturers’ instructions for use.
• Ensures accurate tracking of all instrumentation in conjunction with the SP Liaison for specific service lines. Maintains and records accurate recordings of sterile area environment requirements per Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), OSHA, and/or Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) guidelines per institutional policies.
• Monitors, reads, documents, and interprets all parameters for all types of sterilizers to ensure proper function ((Steam, Ethylene Oxide (ETO) and Low Temperature Hydrogen Peroxide)).

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitors staffing levels against budgeted targets and adjusts to meet goals. Keeps management informed and involved, as appropriate, to proactively address staffing or other employee issues.
• Maintains the shift’s monthly schedule and daily shift assignments, provides input on staff performance evaluation, and assists in the development of the department budget’s needs
• Collaborates with Materials Management to identify supply needs and ordering of non-sterile items in need of processing.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leads and identifies opportunities for practice changes and performance improvement. Investigates and incorporates evidence-based practices which are presented to shared governance and leadership. Supports change initiatives and adapts to unexpected changes
• Identifies staff development opportunities for professional growth of colleagues, provides coaching to meet identified goals. Identifies and assists department educator in scheduling of necessary in-services for department staff related to new products, changes in procedure, etc. Provides oversight for new employee preceptorships. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform: Yes
• Scrubs: Yes
• Business professional: No
• Other (department approved): No

ON-CALL*

*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**

**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)

EXPERIENCE

• Six years of Sterile Processing experience in an acute care hospital

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Required

• Sterile Processing certification: CSCST or CSPDT and
• Instrument Specialist certification: CIS or CSIS

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