Sterile Processing Technician

Overview

Come lead with us at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. At Houston Methodist, the Sterile Processing Technician is responsible for decontamination, assembly, inspecting, wrapping, and sterilization of surgical instruments and medical equipment for Surgical Services and all ancillary departments. This includes working in conjunction with the Operation Room (OR) staff to provide timely sterile products, trays, and case carts where applicable.

The position maintains consistent and continuous workflow between the OR and Central Service Sterile Processing while practicing excellent customer service.

FLSA STATUS
Non-exempt

Education

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)
• Formal education through a Sterile Processing program preferred

Experience

• None

Licenses and Certifications

• Sterile Processing certification: CRCST or CSPDT

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security.
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles.
• Independently demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
• Follows Universal Precautions by wearing the appropriate protective attire while working in the Decontamination area.
• Exhibits interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers.
• Ability to utilize basic computer programs such as Microsoft Office and electronic instrument tracking system, if applicable.
• Demonstrates proper phone etiquette when responding to inquiries made to the department.
• Maintains patient and family privacy.

People Essential Functions

• Communicates with staff from the interprofessional health care team concerning patient safety to improve outcomes and the safe transition of care through effective assignment and shift handoffs, using a structured format. Communication to promote both work efforts and problem resolution is clear and professional.
• Responds positively to requests for assistance. Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Makes contributions to the work effort as a whole and uses problem resolution effectively.
• Contributes towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, e.g. peer-to-peer accountability.

Service Essential Functions

• Performs decontamination and assembling of basic surgical trays, individual instrumentation and equipment utilizing established count sheets. Wraps or contains items appropriately according to size and type of instrument or equipment.
• Provides timely sterile products, trays and case carts, by location, by following guidance of experienced surgical techs, in conjunction with the OR staff.
• Sterilizes instruments and surgical trays by following prescribed manufacturer instructions for use and according to institutional policies and procedures.
• Organizes workload utilizing available work time by assisting others and performing additional task as needed. Provides consistent and continuous workflow between the OR and Sterile Processing while practicing excellent customer service.

Quality/Safety Essential Functions

• Utilizes appropriate cleaning detergents and agents by reading directions and SDS sheets.
• Utilizes all department equipment according to manufacturers’ instructions for use and department policies and protocols.
• Ensures through visual inspection that trays have completed the quality process according to AAMI…