CENTRAL STERILE TECH-I/UVMC/PRN

Position: Central Sterile Tech-I

Department: Central Sterile Processing 

Shift: Varied

Status: PRN

Facility: Upper Valley Medical Center/ On-site

The Instrument Tech is responsible for the decontamination, inspection, maintenance, assembly, packaging, sterilization and distribution of surgical instrumentation, equipment, and supplies to nursing departments. The Instrument Tech must show knowledge of operation, and proper handling, of all complex equipment within the department. The Instrument Tech must show knowledge of general instrumentation and be able to receive instruction, and proficiently utilize information under a high level of pressure to perform and appropriately prioritize daily tasks. The Instrument Tech must possess basic computer skills. The Instrument Tech must maintain a professional image and behavior toward patients, visitors, physicians and other employees to create a positive impression consistent with professional etiquette. The Instrument Tech will adhere to the Premier Health Core Values and the Standards of Behavior.

Essential Duties & Functions:

1. Decontaminates and sterilizes instruments, medical supplies and equipment, and assembles, wraps and sterilizes trays of instruments. Follows proper Standard Precautions while in decontamination and sterilization areas.

2. Monitors biological and chemical wash solution to ensure quality and consistency for decontamination of instruments and medical equipment.

3. Assembles surgical instrument trays, and medical equipment and makes them available to sterile processing customers in a timely manner.

4. Restocks, labels, and maintains inventory, submits requisitions, collects and distributes instruments, trays, crash carts, and facility medical equipment.

5. Performs environmental maintenance duties and assists in maintaining inventory levels in sterile processing, the operating room, and in equipment storage areas.

6. Verifies that equipment functions properly, requisitions for equipment maintenance, repair or replacement, and removes defective equipment.

7. Maintains a clean work area

8. Assists with maintaining established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, and quality improvement, safety, and environmental and infection control standards.

9. Communicates appropriately using good interpersonal skills

TIER 1 Specific Duties & Functions:

1. Decontaminates, high-level disinfects, records, and delivers TEE Probes to appropriate departmental storage area.

2. Performs case cart building in SPM and builds case carts for all projected surgical procedures.

3. Performs instrument set assembly using hardened caskets, wrapping methods, and peel packs. Labels and records items into SPM as dictated by system policy.

4. Performs daily function & qualification testing on all sterilizers, tunnel washers, cart washers and ultrasonic cleaners to include Daily Air Removal Tests (DARTs), Leak Tests, Biologicals, Washer Soil Checks

a. To include descaling cycles, chamber drain checks, washer spray arms, and washer drains.

5. Performs AMC Specific DME responsibilities: Performs emergency cart builds (crash cart, pediatric cart, ENT Cart), general equipment delivery, and basic equipment cleaning.

6. Respiratory Equipment Cleaning UVMC only

7. Performs monthly outdate checks on disposable medical supplies and sterilized instrumentation.

8. Ability to check in, verify, and process vendor instrumentation per manufacturer’s instructions.

9. Ability to enter quality events into the SPM database.

10. Is skilled in the decontamination, cleaning, assembly, and sterilization of semi-complex equipment and instrumentation.

a. Robotic Instruments

b. OB/GYN

c. Laparoscopic

d. Power equipment

e. Orthopedics

f. Flexible Ureteroscopes

11. Endoscopes- Back up support for Endoscopy Department.

Education

Minimum Level of Education Required: High School completion / GED             

Experience

Minimum Level of Experience Required:  No prior job-related work experience

Preferred experience: 1-year sterile processing experience preferred

Knowledge/Skills

• Knowledge of the hospital setting, infection control and medical terminology is highly desired.
• Computer skills and experience is preferred.