Sterile Processing Tech I, UofL Hospital, PRN

Sterile Processing Technician

About UofL Health: UofL Health is a fully integrated regional academic health system with five hospitals, four medical centers, nearly 200 physician practice locations, more than 700 providers, the Frazier Rehab Institute and Brown Cancer Center. With more than 12,000 team membersphysicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists and other highly skilled health care professionalsUofL Health is focused on one mission: delivering patient-centered care to each and every patient each and every day.

Job Description

Position Summary and Purpose The primary purpose of Sterile Processing is to assist in direct patient care by ensuring the OR staff has correct, fully functional, sterile instrumentation delivered in a timely manner consistent with the highest standards of customer service. Sterile Processing Department (SPD) Techs are asked to perform the four basic departmental functions (decontamination, prep and pack, sterilization, and dispatch) with efficiency, expertise, and accuracy. The SPD Tech will display resourcefulness, determination, courtesy, and professionalism while adhering to the standards and procedures associated with the preparation, sterilization, storage, and delivery of surgical instrumentation per Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) Associates of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), and CDC guidelines.

Essential Functions:

• Answers telephone promptly and assist caller with obtaining items needed
• Assembles supplies and places into case carts for scheduled and non-scheduled procedures
• Makes rounds throughout the hospital to deliver sterile and non-sterile instrumentation, supplies and equipment, and to pick-up contaminated or credit instrumentation, supplies and equipment
• Delivers scheduled case carts to the Surgery Department
• Inventories and delivers back-up case carts to the Surgery Department and required areas
• Maintains responsibility for returned instrumentation and supplies (if applicable) that is unused, and the integrity of packaging has not been compromised
• Performs cleaning and decontamination duties, working quickly and safely and thoroughly addresses all instrumentation taking into account any unique cleaning demands
• Inspects, assembles, and packages all decontaminated reusable instruments and sets ensuring for cleanliness and functionality of all instrumentation
• Operates all processing equipment used within the department
• Performs sterilization and all associated monitoring activities
• Observes all safety and security procedures; Reports potential unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly
• Assists in keeping the department organized, neat, clean, and fully stocked while providing quality customer service to all customers, including co-workers

Other Functions:

• Performs duties in a safe manner, to prevent injury to self, patients, visitors or other hospital personnel
• Contributes to maintaining supplies and sterile items for use throughout the hospital; keeps department clean, neat, and well organized
• Prioritizes work and focuses on consistent throughput
• Performs dispatch duties
• Contributes to all official departmental business in a professional manner
• Displays behavior that is consistent with a thorough understanding of the SPD Mission, Vision, and Values
• Maintains compliance with all company policies, procedures and standards of conduct
• Complies with HIPAA privacy and security requirements to maintain confidentiality at all times
• Performs other duties as assigned

Job Requirements

Education: High school diploma or GED/ equivalent (required)

Experience: One (1) year of previous experience in a healthcare setting in a clinical capacity (preferred) Previous experience in sterile processing (strongly preferred)

Certification: Nationally recognized certification for Sterile Processing required within 12 months of hire date (required)

Job Competency: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities critical to this role:

• Effectively communicates with co-workers and all other hospital personnel
• Able to decontaminate all reusable instruments, sets, and utensils according to acceptable sterile processing standards
• Knowledgeable regarding biological monitoring
• Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect regardless of their status or position
• Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness, gathering relevant data while attending to essential details; checks work for accuracy and quality.
• Must be able to problem-solve
• Must have strong relationship building skills and the ability to make and use connections throughout UofL Health to complete projects and maintain strong partnerships with other departments
• Must have strong initiative and be able to gather and analyze information skillfully and be able to brainstorm alternative resources and directions
• Must have great flexibility and the ability to continually look for ways to make appropriate adjustments and changes
• Ability to use instrument washer/decontaminator; Sonic washer; Cart washer; Steam sterilizer, Hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilizer

Language Ability: Adequate conversational English is required to ensure the individual be able to take direction from management, understand how to complete job tasks, communicate adequately with patients and co-workers as necessary, understand and follow safety guidelines, and organizational policies

Able to write routine reports and correspondence; able to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization

Reasoning Ability: Must have ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions

Must have the ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions and deliver successful results

Ability to identify and understand issues, problems, and opportunities; determines course of action; develops appropriate solutions

Computer Skills: Working knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office programs

Able to use instrument management system and One Source

Must have the capacity to learn other relevant systems and databases, as needed

Additional Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates a commitment to service, organization values and professionalism through appropriate conduct and demeanor at all times
• Maintains confidentiality and protects sensitive data at all times
• Adheres to organizational and department specific safety standards and guidelines
• Works collaboratively and supports efforts of team members
• Demonstrates exceptional customer service and interacts effectively with physicians, patients, residents, visitors, staff and the broader health care community

UofL Health Core Expectation: At UofL Health, we expect all our employees to live the values of honesty, integrity and compassion and demonstrate these values in their interactions with others and as they deliver excellent patient care by:

• Honoring and caring for the dignity of all persons in mind, body, and spirit
• Ensuring the highest quality of care for those we serve
• Working together as a team to achieve our goals
• Improving continuously by listening, and asking for and responding to feedback
• Seeking new and better ways to meet the needs of those we serve
• Using our resources wisely
• Understanding how each of our roles contributes to the success of UofL Health