Lead Sterile Processing Tech

Lead Sterile Processing Tech - Full Time

Location:

Methodist Women's Hospital

Address: 707 N. 190th Plaza - Elkhorn, NE

Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday, 3:00 PM - 11:30 PM

Sterilization Technicians play an essential role in patient safety by sorting, assembling, sterilizing and distributing instrumentation from all areas of the hospital. This is a hands-on role that includes routine maintenance, instrument tracking, preparing accurate records, and maintaining a working knowledge of sterilization and disinfection methods required for specific instruments and equipment. As a Sterilization Technician, you will be responsible for following universal precautions, infection control policies, federal regulations, and standard policies and procedures within the organization.

The Lead SPD Tech oversees scheduling, organizing, and providing work direction to meet production goals and serves as a liaison and resource for staff and customers regarding sterilization, processing of surgical instruments, and sterile instrument storage.

• Processes, sorts, assembles, and distributes contaminated and non-contaminated instruments and equipment to construct clean accurate sets which are in good repair by using special techniques and procedures of Universal Barrier Precautions.
• Follows procedures for manual cleaning process.
• Follows procedures for automated cleaning process.
• Proper use of chemicals and knowledge of MSDS forms.
• Practices Universal precautions, Infection Control policies and observes safe work practices.
• Communicates to appropriate personnel regarding sharps, punctures and other potential risks.
• Operates decontamination machinery in strict accordance with departmental procedures.
• Adheres to using personal protective equipment (PPE) while working in decontamination.
• Distributes instruments sets to ensure receipt by departments in a timely manner as directed by supervisory staff, as requested by customers and as deemed necessary by technician.
• Accurately delivers sterile items in the correct location as designated in Sterile Processing Department (SPD).
• Responds to Operating Room (OR) / Outpatient Surgery (OPS) requests in a timely manner.
• Prepares surgical instruments and related supplies to ensure surgical instrument sets are assembled accurately and completely by following recipe card.
• Precisely follows individual recipe sheets for each set/tray/item being assembled.
• Replace lost or damaged instruments as required to complete the set/tray.
• Conducts quality checks on instruments for cleanliness, function, defects, breakage and overall condition.
• Flushes all instruments with lumens or cannulated.
• Keeps accurate records of sterilization and of all equipment in the department to comply with federal and other external regulations by following guidelines in department policy and procedure manual.
• Maintains SPD's equipment service log.
• Maintains accurate sterilization records/documentation.
• Follows protocol for scanning bar coded items and ensures items are scanned to proper stations and locations.
• Sterilization records entered accurately into the sterilization module and load control numbers are consistently recorded and verified.
• Orders supplies to ensure adequate inventory by adhering to par levels.
• Performs sterile linen processing to ensure availability of sterile linen, by following established guidelines; correctly assembles and wraps linen packs and keeps sterile linen stocked to set par levels.
• Proper wrapping techniques with non-woven wrapper, packaging techniques with paper peel pouches, and use of rigid containers.
• Loads and unloads sterilization carts to ensure smooth and timely processing and delivery of sterile instruments and supplies; operates sterilizers in accordance with departmental procedures for steam and gas plasma sterilization.
• Understands and interprets mechanical, chemical and biological indicators; prepares sterilization loads according to method and policy.
• Incubates self-contained biologicals according to protocol.
• Performs preceptor and staffing duties, and trains new employees using departmental skills checklists and competency checklists to assure optimal performance.
• Assumes responsibility for the assigned shift in the absence of the Service Leader and maintains work assignments and workflow when in charge.
• Assists in teaching/training staff and students; acts as a resource for Sterile Processing Technician I.
• Maintains competence in area of expertise and certification; performs other duties as needed or assigned by Service Leader to align related needs with effective solutions.
• Assists in unpacking the department's supply order and participates in orienting and training new staff; reviews check-off manuals and follows up with new staff for their first 6 months.
• Assist with developing processes to attain expected outcomes for service processing services and provide guidance and feedback to the sterile processing services team.
• Pursue professional growth and participation in a professional…