ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responsible for preparing and assembling medical and surgical supplies, instrumentation, and equipment, maintaining the sterile processing areas, and receiving and distributing surgical supplies and equipment.
- Assists the Operating Room staff by providing instruments and supplies to perform the scheduled procedure. Works cooperatively with all staff throughout the facility.
- Follows approved infection control, quality assurance and departmental policies and procedures. Cleans, sterilizes, and maintains equipment. Works most of the time in the sterile processing department cleaning, preparing, assembling, and sterilizing instruments and sets.
- Enters information into the logbooks regarding sterilizer operations.
- Adheres to safety policies and procedures in performing job duties and responsibilities.
o Reports observed or suspected safety violations, hazards and policy and procedure noncompliance to the Safety Officer or other designated person.
o Observes safety measures in performance of job duties and responsibilities.
o Responds to emergency situations with competence and composure.
o Demonstrates awareness of personal and work area safety all times
o Member of Safety Committee.
- Applies the principles of aseptic technique and prescribed operating/procedure room procedures to competently perform instrument technician functions.
o Follows principles of aseptic technique in preparing sterile packages and performing duties in preparation for the procedure.
o Adherence to hand washing requirements, workflow patterns, standard precautions, sterility assurance, biological monitoring, and dress code.
o Reports any observed or suspected break in technique and takes appropriate action.
o Observes safety measures in patient care activities.
- Performs required maintenance of instruments, supplies and equipment by adhering to cleaning, care, utilization, and sterilization procedures as directed.
o Selects appropriate method of sterilization
o Communicates information about equipment to the appropriate staff.
o Wear personal protective equipment.
o Handles equipment and instruments correctly to provide appropriate availability and safety.
o Maintains availability of instruments and supplies to avoid delays during the procedure.
o Assists in maintaining adequate supplies in the operating/procedure room for immediate access during procedure.
o Operates V-Pro equipment according to manufacturer guidelines.
o Inspects, disassembles, sorts, cleans and processes reusable instrumentation and equipment.
o Follows manufacturer's recommendations and guidelines for cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing of instrumentations, equipment, and implants.
o Identifies, inspects, and assembles all general and specialty instruments, various power equipment, laser and endoscope instruments per specifications and manufacturer recommendations.
o Properly loads and unloads sterilizer
o Verifies that sterilization parameters have been met before distribution of load.
o Assembles necessary supplies and equipment for scheduled procedures according to count sheets.
o Inspects equipment for proper working condition.
o Assists in work area by cleaning, storing packaging and sterilizing instruments.
o Maintains and updates instrument cards.
o Maintains standards to provide a safe, clean and orderly environment.
o Other duties as assigned
- Quality Assurance Monitoring
o Checks and validates event-related protocols; disinfection and/or sterilization load parameters and records; inventory check sheets; and equipment monitoring.
o Verifies that sterilization parameters have been met before distribution of loads.
o Accurately documents and maintains daily records of all QA and sterilization functions according to regulatory guidelines and infection control standards.
o Maintains accurate sterilization records.
o Reports all malfunctioning equipment to Team Leader.
- Cleans and restocks Sterile Processing Department.
- Participates in department employee orientation, meetings, in-services, training, and competency programs.
- Trains personnel on:
o PPE, inspecting, disassembling, sorting, cleaning, and processing instrumentation and equipment.
o Selecting and operating specialized sterilization equipment.
o Following device manufacturers cleaning guidelines.
- Attends internal and external classes for growth and development.
- Professionalism:
o Demonstrates effective written and oral communication.
o Actively supports and contributes teamwork in the workplace.
o Demonstrates responsibility in adhering to posted work schedule.
o Flexible work schedule to accommodate the surgical schedule.
o Assists in in-services and training.
- Assists with patient care as directed by the R.N.
- Helps with the "turn over" of cases.
- Performs other related duties as necessary.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
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High School Diploma/GED
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Procedure room experience preferred
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Experience in central processing functions related to facility equipment.
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Experience or training in the disinfection/sterilization process required
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Ability to read and comprehend complex instructions.
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Able to check all sterilization monitoring, record keeping, and quality assurance practices.
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Require high-level visual and auditory acuity for timely response.
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Ability to move quickly in response to the operating room needs, to stand for long periods, occasional overhead and low reaching, and to exert force of up to 50 lbs. occasionally, up to 20 lbs. frequently and/or up to 10 lbs. constantly.
