Position Summary:
The Sterile Processing Tech supports safe surgical and clinical care by performing essential decontamination, cleaning, assembly, packaging, and sterilization of instruments and equipment used across Trinity Health. Working within the Central Processing Department, this role ensures all items are processed in accordance with established infection prevention standards, manufacturer guidelines, and regulatory requirements. As part of a collaborative, multi-area processing team, the technician contributes to patient safety by maintaining accurate documentation, selecting appropriate sterilization or high-level disinfection methods, and ensuring timely delivery of sterile supplies to procedural areas. Through attention to detail, adherence to quality standards, and effective teamwork, this position supports efficient workflow, quality control, and readiness of surgical and clinical instruments.
Key Responsibilities:
-
Receive, sort, and decontaminate reusable instruments, equipment, and endoscopes using approved cleaning agents, equipment, and procedures. Inspect, assemble, and package individual instruments and instrument trays, ensuring completeness, functionality, and compliance with quality standards.
-
Select appropriate sterilization or high-level disinfection methods and operate processing equipment while maintaining required documentation for all sterilization cycles.
-
Utilize instrument management systems and related technology to track equipment, verify processing steps, and support timely distribution to procedural areas.
-
Rotate between all sterile processing work areas and support shift, weekend, holiday and on call coverage to meet departmental needs.
-
Collaborate with surgical services, clinics, and other care teams to ensure availability of sterile instruments and resolve processing-related issues.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
-
Certification as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) is strongly preferred, but not required. The successful candidate will be encouraged and supported in obtaining this certification to further their technical expertise.
Educational Requirements:
-
High school diploma, GED or equivalent preferred.
Experience Requirements:
Special Skills or Training Requirements:
-
Excellent organization, operations, people management, and problem-solving skills are essential.
-
Must be able to speak, read, write and understand medical terminology to follow written instructions and complete various forms and records regarding equipment processing and preparation of equipment.
-
Must have working knowledge of computer programs; proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and exposure to instrument tracking software.
-
Effectively demonstrates multitasking capabilities within job while maintaining a positive, professional, and customer service based attitude.
-
Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills and the ability to be approachable and flexible.
-
Ability to multitask is critical.
-
Exposure to the Operating Room environment is a requirement.
-
A strict dress code and professional appearing including wearing surgical scrubs is required.
-
Must be able to frequently lift up to 25 lbs. stoop, bend, pull, and place and retrieve material.
Physical Requirements:
The Sterile Processing Tech is frequently required to stand, walk, bend, reach, and lift while completing decontamination, assembly, and sterilization tasks. The role involves handling instrument trays, equipment, and supply items that may require moderate lifting and repetitive motion. Adequate vision, hearing, and manual dexterity are necessary for identifying instruments, performing detailed inspection, and safely operating processing equipment.
Environmental Requirements:
This role works in decontamination and clean processing areas where exposure to moisture, chemicals, detergents, heat, and equipment noise is common. The technician may encounter soiled instruments and must consistently follow infection-prevention protocols, PPE requirements, and safety procedures. Work may require transition between multiple processing zones and occasional exposure to the operating room environment, with adherence to strict dress codes and sterile practices.
