Job Title: Sterilization Technician

Job Description

As a Sterilization Technician, you will be an integral part of the healthcare team, performing technical and clinical duties essential for surgical procedures. Your primary responsibilities include preparing and maintaining instrumentation and supplies, focusing on re-processing and sterilization. You will also prepare case carts and instrumentation for scheduled cases, balance multiple duties such as transporting patients, receiving orders, inventory maintenance, and performing some computer work.

Responsibilities

• Select and assemble sterile disposable equipment, supplies, and instrumentation for specified procedures using physician preference cards.
• Stock the operating room with necessary items like arthroscopy fluid and suction canisters.
• Assist the anesthesiologist, surgeon, and circulating nurse with patient transfers and positioning.
• Transfer sterilized instrumentation from the clean utility room to the operating room using proper techniques.
• Store and retrieve sterile instrumentation and supplies.
• Transfer contaminated instruments from the operating room to the dirty utility room using proper techniques.
• Decontaminate all equipment, instrumentation, and supplies using protective precautions and proper care of instrumentation.
• Don personal protective equipment (eyewear, gloves, and gown) and sort contaminated instruments, isolating sharps and power surgical instruments thoroughly, disassembling as needed.
• Use ultrasound on appropriate instrumentation.
• Dry, inspect, and lubricate instruments as needed.
• Reassemble sets of instruments in preparation for sterilization.
• Pass clean instrumentation to the sterilization room.
• Prepare damaged instrumentation for mailing and shipping, ensuring proper documentation of package contents, including serial numbers.
• Perform daily Bowie-Dick and biological indicator tests, ensuring they pass.
• Use steam indicators and indicator tape for all packages and instrument sets to be sterilized.
• Run all sterilization cycles, positioning items appropriately on wire racks in the autoclave.
• Choose appropriate cycles and times for wrapped and unwrapped (FLASH) cycles.
• Check printouts for proper sterilization parameters before transferring instrumentation to the operating room or storage shelves.
• Place biological indicators in all implants.
• Prioritize sterilization loads to avoid delays or the need to flash instrumentation.
• Maintain sterilization records according to center policies.
• Store sterile instrumentation according to standards and center policies.
• Follow manufacturer instructions for equipment maintenance.
• Care for decontamination and sterilization equipment according to manufacturer and Biomedical Engineering instructions.
• Contact Biomedical Engineering for routine or emergency maintenance as needed.
• Report any equipment problems or repairs as needed.
• Continue education for 10 CEUs or more over five years.
• Maintain CBSPD recertification every five years as required by law.
• Assist in setting up, organizing, stocking, and cleaning supply and linen areas.
• Help with inventory, storage, and retrieval of supplies and equipment.
• Clean and maintain rooms, equipment, and furniture according to standards and center policy.
• Assist with emergency procedures as directed.
• Maintain confidentiality of all patient and center communications and documents.
• Communicate a positive and caring attitude towards patients, peers, staff, physicians, and other contacts.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the Director of Surgical Services.

Essential Skills

• Sterile processing
• Sterilization
• Aseptic technique
• Sterile Tech experience
• Graduate of a sterile tech program/certification
• Cleaning
• Decontamination
• Laboratory
• Instrumentation

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to multi-task efficiently without loss of accuracy, focus, and follow-through.
• Organizational skills and timeliness.
• Ability to work safely and efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to meet the center's needs as demanded by the schedule, including overtime and time changes.
• Ability to work well with physicians, employees, patients, and others.
• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Certificate from a sterilization technician program required.
• Knowledge of reprocessing and sterilization standards.
• Minimum one year of reprocessing technician experience required.

Work Environment

The work environment is a surgery center setting. The position requires working in a fast-paced environment with a focus on safety and efficiency. Employees are expected to follow protective precautions and handle equipment maintenance according to manufacturer and Biomedical Engineering instructions. The role may require overtime and the ability to adapt to schedule changes. Maintaining a positive and caring attitude towards patients, peers, staff, and physicians is essential