Sterile Processing Department Perioperative Technicians are allied health professionals, who are an integral part of the Perioperative Department healthcare team who provide sterilized equipment for use during a surgical procedure. Sterile Processing Department Perioperative Technicians, working under the supervision and delegatory authority of a Sterile Processing Department Manager and/or shift supervisor, performs a variety of clerical and manual tasks involved in maintaining inventory controls to include receiving, verifying, storing and issuing various supplies, materials and equipment.  Distributes sterile and non-sterile supplies upon request by case cart requisition or individual urgent delivery to Surgical Services, 0B Services, and all other ancillary departments. Sterile Processing Technicians load and unload sterile surgical instrument and supplies onto case carts and put away sterile instruments and supplies. This includes working in conjunction with the OR staff to provide timely sterile products, trays and case carts where applicable. The Sterile Processing Department Perioperative Technicians maintains consistency and continuous workflow between the OR and Sterile Processing while practicing above average customer service. The Sterile Processing Technician reports to the Manager of the Sterile Processing Department and RN Director of Surgical Services.

Education         

High School Graduate/GED

Preferred Education     

Some College course work

Preferred Experience    

Six months experience in a healthcare setting with experience in stocking, transporting, and/or storage

Core Job Responsibilities

Successfully completes hospital and unit-based orientation programs  Successfully completes annual hospital and unit-based required competencies and education  Able to establish priorities and prepare for emergency situations during scheduled work hours and scheduled on-call hours  Accepts constructive feedback to improve job performance and collaborates with Manager, CUE and/or Shift Supervisor to make necessary adjustments  Attends staff meetings to remain knowledgeable in department updates and practices  Collaborates with other members of the healthcare team to determine instrument priorities for case needs  Complies with established policies and procedures  Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate infection prevention strategies to prevent surgical site infections  Demonstrates knowledge of standard and transmission-based precautions to reduce the risk of cross-contamination by using appropriate disinfectant according to pathogen present in the environment.   Demonstrates knowledge of the procedure being performed and anticipates the needs of the surgical team  Effectively communicates, both written and verbal, with co-workers.  Ensures compliance with all clinical expectations regarding regulatory requirements such as: improved on time starts initiatives; and reduction in surgical site infections   Ensures wrapped instruments contain the appropriate sterilization indicators and appropriate wrapping materials completely covers instrument, prior to handing off the instrument to Certified Sterile Processing Tech to be sterilized  Maintains inventory of supplies and equipment and fills surgical case cart requisitions using hospital computer system.  Other duties may be assigned as necessary to facilitate the functions of the department and hospital.  Participates in continuing education and achieving/maintaining certification  Participates in the orientation of new Sterile Processing associates   Prepares and wraps instruments for sterilization processes according to guidelines provided thru the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI); the Associate of surgical Technologist (AST); and the Association of peri-Operative Nurses (AORN) and after achieving proven competency  Recognizes the importance of hand hygiene and performs appropriate hand hygiene techniques  Recognizes the importance of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) while in the decontamination area and appropriately dons and doffs PPE  Responsible and accountable for own professional growth and development   Responsible for delivering instrumentation to operating room and tower area for surgical procedures  Responsible for the stocking of supplies in the SPD Department  Responsible for unloading of used instrumentation from case carts, box carts, and sterilization racks  Responsible for demonstrating competency for all new equipment and processes  Retrieves used cast carts when needed from patient care areas and returns to SPD for appropriate processing  Serves on unit-based committees  May assist the Certified Sterile Processing Technician in prep and pack area with wrapping of non-complex instrumentation, such as light handles, batteries and metal trays after additional education, competency and hands-on skill check offs are obtained and maintained.   May assist the Certified Sterile Processing Technician in decontamination area with removal of dirty instruments from case cart to washer loading rack after additional education, competency and hands-on skill check offs are obtained and maintained. 

 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job classification. They are not to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all duties, skills, and responsibilities of people so assigned.