GENERAL OVERVIEW:
This role is a highly skilled and experienced professional who serves as a technical expert and resource within the Sterile Processing Department. This role focuses on ensuring the quality, safety, and efficiency of sterile processing operations through advanced technical expertise, process improvement initiatives, and meticulous attention to detail. This role requires a deep understanding of sterile processing principles, regulatory standards, and best practices related to decontaminating, cleaning, assembling, sterilizing, and distributing surgical instruments and equipment.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Serves as the primary point of contact for complex technical issues related to decontamination, inspection, assembly, sterilization, and distribution. (10%)
Provides expert guidance to other technicians on proper instrument handling, cleaning techniques, and sterilization procedures. (10%)
Assists with the training of new employees and mentor's technicians in developing their technical skills and expertise. (5%)
Ability to solve complex problems, make sound decisions under pression, and analyze data to identify trends. (5%)
Ability to work collaboratively with other technicians, surgeons, nurses and other healthcare professionals. (5%)
Expertly receives and sorts contaminated instruments and equipment from various departments. (5%)
Independently disassembles instruments and cleans them using appropriate cleaning agents and equipment. (5%)
Operates and maintains automated washing and decontamination equipment. Can troubleshoot complex issues with equipment. (5%)
Expertly inspects cleaned instruments for cleanliness, proper function, and damage. (5%)
Expertly assembles complex instrument sets according to established count sheets and tray lists. (5%)
Wraps or packages instruments and sets for sterilization. (5%)
Loads and operates appropriate sterilization equipment. Can troubleshoot complex issues as needed. (5%)
Independently monitors sterilization cycles and interprets printouts to ensure proper sterilization parameters were met. (5%)
Documents sterilization cycles and maintains accurate records. (5%)
Delivers sterile items to requesting departments in a timely manner. Can prioritize urgent requests. (5%)
Maintains a clean and organized work environment. (5%)
Follows all safety and infection control policies, procedures, and protocols and uses personal protective equipment (PPE) as required. (5%)
Assists in training new employees on department procedures and equipment. (5%)
Other duties as assigned or requested.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required
High School/GED
Requires Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) or Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) at hire:
Certification requirement does not apply to Sterile Processing Technicians who have been employed by a healthcare facility on or before 12/29/2020
A Surgical Technologist holding an active Certification of Surgical Technologist (CST) or Tech in Surgery Certified (TSC) eligible for role, but must obtain an applicable certification for Sterile Processing within 18 months of holding this position
3 years of experience with sterile processing
Preferred
Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) or other applicable certification for Sterile Processing.
Disclaimer: The job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this job title. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.
Compliance Requirement: This job adheres to the ethical and legal standards and behavioral expectations as set forth in the code of business conduct and company policies.
As a component of job responsibilities, employees may have access to covered information, cardholder data, or other confidential customer information that must be protected at all times. In connection with this, all employees must comply with both the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices and Privacy Policies and Procedures as well as all data security guidelines established within the Company’s Handbook of Privacy Policies and Practices and Information Security Policy.
Furthermore, it is every employee’s responsibility to comply with the company’s Code of Business Conduct. This includes but is not limited to adherence to applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations as well as company policies and training requirements.
Highmark Health and its affiliates prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on any category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
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