Under general supervision, inspects, cleans, assembles and sterilizes patient care equipment, supplies, and instruments according to established policies and procedures and according to manufacturer’s instructions. Distributes equipment, instruments and supplies to all areas of the Medical Center as well as satellite facilities. Responsible for all surgery instruments and equipment needing cleaning, sterilization, etc. Primary duties may vary depending on area assigned.

• Inspects, assembles, wrap, collects and sterilized equipment, packs, instruments and supplies.
• Using state of the art sterile processing methods and strict adherence to established procedures, manually/mechanically decontaminates instruments, trays and equipment.
• Sterilizes patient care equipment and supplies by operating sterilizing equipment according to established policies and procedures and following manufacturer’s instructions. Assures processed instruments meet the stringent criteria for sterility and use in the OR prior to distribution.
• Inventories/stocks and delivers supplies, carts, equipment to all facility areas as needed. Determines adequate levels of reserve supplies for routine use and emergency situations. Rotates stock, inspecting for outdates.
• Participates in department meetings, in-services, QA/QI planning and orientation of new associates.
• Performs and documents quality control aspects of sterile processing. Accurately maintains comprehensive quality assurance standards related to sterilization and infection control in a sterile area.
• Ensures that controlled activities (i.e., equipment, sterilization, PAR levels, sterile wraps, etc.) are documented and maintained in a matter commensurate with accepted standards and protocol.
• Duties of Instrument Tech: Coordinates with Surgery all changes made to instruments sets including ordering of new instruments/sharpening of instruments, instructs techs of changes. Coordinates with Surgery/Techs set up of all case carts include Totals. Coordinates specific needs of Surgery in reprocessing of instruments.
• Coordinates processing of all instruments in Central Service. Updates Total Instrument Books, instructs Techs on Total Instruments.
• Adheres to all standards and policies regarding safety/patient safety initiatives and Corporate Responsibility Program.
• Is responsible for all other duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Education: High School Diploma or GED

Preferred Education: Vocational/ Technical Degree

Licensure/Certification Required: Successfully completed a Central Service Technician training course. Certified by Certification Board of Sterile Processing & Distributing (CBSPD) or International Association of Healthcare Central Services Material Management (IAHCSMM).

Minimum Years and Type of Experience: Work may require two to six months on the job training for familiarity with department and facility policies.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required: Knowledge of various equipment, processes, OR sterile technique, office and computer skills.

Position is in a collective bargaining argreement (Union F)