Sterile Processing Technician

Instrument Processing Technician

Main function: Responsible for sterilizing and ensuring proper care of instruments.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Philosophy: Supports the facility's ideology, mission, goals, and objectives. Performs in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures. Follows the facility's standards for ethical business conduct. Conducts self as a positive role model and team member. Recognizes patients' rights and responsibilities and supports them in performance of job duties. Participates in facility committees, meetings, inservices, and activities.
• Communication: Communicates effectively and professionally with patients, visitors, physicians, and coworkers. Interacts with others in a positive, respectful, and considerate manner.
• Financial practices: Uses facility resources appropriately and avoids wasteful practices. Reports wasteful practices. Analyzes work area and makes recommendations for potential cost-effective improvements.
• Compliance program: Contributes to the progress and development of the organization's adopted compliance program. Performs according to established compliance policies and procedures.
• Performance-improvement program: Contributes to the progress and development of the organization's adopted performance-improvement program. Performs according to established performance-improvement policies and procedures.
• Safety/risk-management program: Adheres to safety policies and procedures in performing job duties and responsibilities. Reports observed or suspected safety violations, hazards, and policy/procedure noncompliance to the safety officer or other designated person.
• Professional competence: Participates in continuing education and other learning experiences. Shares knowledge gained in continuing education with staff. Maintains membership in relevant professional organizations. Seeks new learning experiences by accepting challenging opportunities and responsibilities. Welcomes suggestions and recommendations.
• Duties: Maintains a clean and orderly central processing area (e.g., shelves, counters, equipment). Adheres to sterilization process policies and procedures. Cleans each item according to manufacturer's instructions. Inspects instruments under microscope for damage and defects; lubricates items as required. Determines whether each item is in good working condition. Sorts and arranges items into proper trays according to established policy/procedure. Wraps trays and individual items according to established policy/procedure. Accurately labels each item with name and expiration date. Correctly operates sterilizers, ultrasonic washer, and other processing equipment (i.e., positions items correctly in sterilizer, selects proper cycle, seeks assistance when needed). Checks equipment indicators for proper functioning. Performs required biological/chemical monitoring tests on all sterilizers and maintains logs according to established policy/procedure. Maintains availability of recording supplies for continuity of recording throughout sterilization process. Maintains inventory levels and accurate records. Performs weekly inspections of all sterile items in facility. Checks for outdated items and package integrity of wrapped sterilized items; replaces items as necessary. Places items in correct location. Maintains adequate inventory of supplies for the sterile processing area. Maintains/updates the instrument tray inventory list. Accurately documents count of instruments loaned/returned to outside sources.

Responsibility for assets: Instrument cleanliness/working condition

Qualifications:

• Cooperative work attitude toward co-employees, management, patients, visitors, and physicians
• Ability to promote favorable facility image with physicians, patients, insurance companies, and general public
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems

Requirements:

• Required: High school diploma or GED certificate. Strong ethical and moral character references. Training/courses in sterile technique, sterilization of instruments
• Preferred: Instrument processing technician experience. ASC experience

Job quality requirements:

• Accuracy
• Attention to detail
• Timeliness
• Organization
• Little supervision needed to accomplish tasks

Dependability:

• Attendance
• Punctuality
• Ability to follow instructions
• Ability to meet deadlines

Physical/mental requirements:

• Ability to stand/walk for long periods
• Ability to push, pull, lift, and position equipment and patients
• Visual and auditory acuity for use of sterilization equipment

Working conditions (environmental):

• Well lit and ventilated area with complicated equipment, some of which is hazardous in nature
• Category III: exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may encounter chemical hazards