Sterile Processing Technician I

Job Summary:
Under indirect supervision, assists in distribution of sterile and contaminated supplies to nursing inpatient and clinic departments; inventories and stocks supply carts; fills requisitions as required; washes, decontaminates, checks, assembles, wraps, sterilizes, stores, and issues trays, instruments, supplies and equipment. In addition, assumes responsibility for appropriate care, processing, and sterilization of specialty instruments for varied surgical services; assists O.R. staff by sterilizing specialty equipment and/or obtaining additional or extra supplies required for procedures; assists with room preparation and/or clean-up activities to assure timely turnover of surgical suites and increase utilization of resources.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Segregates all used instruments, equipment apparatus, and other articles returned to CSD according to decontamination method; loads appropriate items in washer; washes other items in sonic cleaner or manually, using approved detergent; wipes dry; washes appropriate items in cart-washer; changes graph paper of processing equipment.
• Assembles instruments; sets-up variety of general and special trays; wraps and seals items in wrappers according to established procedures in preparation for sterilization. In addition, inspects surgical instrumentation for proper function.
• Runs sterilizer test packs according to policy; incubates and interprets biological indicator; notifies supervisor immediately of any abnormal results.
• Performs sterilization procedures in accordance with sterilization standards and departmental policies and procedures; practices universal precautions and infection control procedures; ensures safe sterilization; detects any malfunction of equipment; checks equipment indicators before, during and after each load to ensure proper equipment settings; applies load identification label to each package after sterilization process complete; shelves appropriately. In addition, demonstrates working knowledge of surgical equipment and supplies, including special care and sterilization procedures.; assumes responsibility for appropriate care, processing, and sterilization of specialty instruments for varied surgical services, (e.g. bronchoscopes, laser, midas rex, laparoscope); assists O.R. staff by sterilizing specialty equipment and/or obtaining additional or extra supplies required for procedures; assists with room preparation and/or clean-up activities to assure timely turnover of surgical suites and increase utilization of resources.
• Adheres to all aspects of sterility control, universal precautions and infection control practices; participates in departmental meetings, inservice programs and quality assurance activities to keep abreast of current trends; researches methods and processes to maximize effectiveness and reduce wastage of resources; recognizes own learning needs and seeks knowledge to increase skills and abilities.
• Receives and prepares items requiring gas sterilization; ensures proper packaging; arranges for transport and return of items to outside facility; ensures all return items have been sterilized; verifies all items sent out are returned; ensures provision of manufacturer documentation for gas sterilization by requesting department.
• Reviews and maintains sterilizer load indicators; files reports; completes log; recalls positive biological products from user departments.
• Inspects color of tapes on newly autoclaved items and on stored sterile packs on all supply shelves; sends outdated supplies for reprocessing or replacement; restocks shelf items as needed.
• Cleans and performs minor daily maintenance of equipment; reassembles and tests equipment after decontamination; reports equipment failures or errors immediately to maintenance and notifies supervisor/lead; prepares repair requisition for equipment or other items returned due to malfunction.
• Checks, organizes, and restocks supplies on shelves; pulls outdated articles; receives and checks quantities of supplies from warehouse.
• Takes and fills orders for supplies; refers to appropriate person as needed; prepares, checks and organizes requisitions and supply cart issue forms; ensures accurate charges to facilitate data entry; inventories and restocks departmental supply carts and specialty carts; records issues for each cart restocked; completes required records; assists in obtaining supplies/equipment from other facilities when necessary; uses supplies with close attention to cost containment and reduction of costs; assists in evaluating new supplies.
• Maintains daily inventory of all equipment; inputs inventory data in computer as assigned; files completed requisitions and forms; updates replenishment area profiles as necessary; enters counts; prints and issues picklists; participates in cyclical and annual inventory procedures; removes all questionable and outdated supplies from supply areas; inspects sterility of supplies and makes arrangements for re-sterilization or reordering as needed; rotates stock as necessary; assists with ordering and receiving departmental stock and non-stock items. Assists in stocking and restocking surgical supply areas; maintains inventory supply listings of instruments; maintains itemized list of standard instrument trays and contents.
• Cleans and maintains neat and orderly work areas according to department standards; wipes and straightens shelves, tables and equipment; wipes shelves, carts and drawers, while restocking.
• Logs surgical specimens and sends to pathology at appropriate time; checks and orders formalin daily for O.R. specimens.
• Checks and logs blood refrigerator temperature daily; reports variances; transports blood form blood bank to O.R.; returns unused blood following procedure.
• Monitors O.R. environment to assure safety of patients, staff and visitors; reviews departmental safety policies and procedures; demonstrates understanding of safety policies and procedures in daily duties.
• Keeps abreast of current trends in sterile processing and inventory control.
• Uses effective communication skills to collaborate with other team members and interact with other departments; accepts and gives constructive feedback.
• Demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to provide culturally sensitive care and/or service.
• Performs other duties and accepts responsibility as assigned.