Sterile Processing Technician II

Summary:

Under guidance and direction of the sterile reprocessing Supervisor and management team the SPD Technician II performs all core duties and responsibilities. Participates as a preceptor for new employees SPD Technician I and actively participates in process improvement activities. Technician II uses critical thinking skills is a resource for SPD Assistants and SPD Technician I as well as actively participates in the on-boarding of new employees. Technician II is expected to specialize and serve as subject matter expert for service lines and/or processes. 

Responsibilities:

Consistently applies the corporate values of respect honesty and fairness and the constant pursuit of excellence in improving the health status of the people of the region through the provision of customer-friendly geographically accessible and high-value services within the environment of a comprehensive integrated academic health system. Is responsible for knowing and acting in accordance with the principles of the Brown University Health Corporate Compliance Program and Code of Conduct.

Must be able to perform all duties in accordance with Brown University Health Policies and Procedures manufacturers Instructions for Use (IFUs) regulatory and national standards. Must be certified by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) as a CRCST or by the Certification Board of Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) as a CBSPDT at all times during employment.

Collaborative Functions:

• Precepts and verifies competency and skill development of staff as appropriate providing meaningful feedback to SPD management team.
• Capable of taking Charge duties in absence of Supervisor and Coordinator.
• Relates all employee issues to coordinator supervisor or management team.
• Functions as resource & mentor for SPD Technicians & II; lead by example.
• Develops and maintains expert knowledge & competency of sterile processing services standards policies and procedures.
• Understands and utilizes the surgical schedule preference cards and instrument tracking system to prioritize & coordinate workflow to meet department needs in an efficient manner.
• Utilize critical thinking skills to identify and resolve issues appropriately.
• Competent knowledge of surgical instrumentation at an expert level.
• Participates in shared governance to develop and implement quality improvement projects and is an active member of the quality improvement process. Is involved in work process improvement discussions plans and projects
• Sets up and cleans work area at the beginning end & as needed each shift per procedure and infection control standards.
• Maintains clean and organized work area.

Decontamination and Cleaning of Reusable Medical Devices:

Follows Infection Control Practices and utilizes approved PPE per policy.

Receives soiled used and/or contaminated equipment surgical instruments scopes and supplies from Operating Rooms patient care units and specialized areas. Documents per department procedures.

• Disassembles items as needed before choosing appropriate cleaning method.
• Identifies items in need of repair upon receipt and ensures information is maintained during cleaning process by tagging items appropriately if not already tagged by user department.
• Selects and utilizes appropriate manual cleaning tools to achieve instrument decontamination including but not limited to instrument brushes enzymatic detergent neutral detergent flushing devices ultrasonic bath leak tester.
• Selects and utilizes appropriate automated cleaning tools to achieve instrument decontamination. Operates equipment per IFUs; this includes loading and selecting appropriate cycles cleaning inspection for automated washers cart washers sonics Automatic Endoscopic Re-processors AERs) and all equipment used in area to process instrumentation.
• Properly loads and unloads instrument washers cart washers sonics AER etc. according to IFU and standards.

Assembly and Packaging:

• Documents tray assembly utilizing instrument tracking software.
• Inspects and assembles all equipment instruments scopes and instrument sets following product recipe verifies items are functional free of debris and required per IFU.
• Documents items missing from instrument set after thorough search escalating set to SPD Supervisor or Coordinator.
• Identifies and places appropriate internal indicator as required per IFU.
• Selects appropriate packaging method including any sterilization accessories (corner protectors etc.); ensures all external indicators and/or labels are securely affixed to item.


Sterilization and High-Level Disinfection of Reusable Medical Devices:

• Follows preventative maintenance according to manufacturers instructions for use for specific equipment.
• Follow manufacturers Instruction for Use (IFU) to select appropriate disinfection/sterilization method and approved cycle type/time.
• Inspects packages to ensure all external indicators filters and/or labels are securely affixed to items returns non satisfactory products to assembly.
• Loads sterilizer as appropriate to ensure cycle completion and following proper loading techniques according to IFU.
• Performs routine sterilizer testing including biological monitoring leak test and bowie dick test as appropriate.
• Following established policies interprets and appropriately documents result of sterilizer testing cycles and issues. Escalates issues for example positive BI results or malfunctioning equipment as appropriate for intervention.
• Removes and inspects items from sterilizer utilizing approved methods to preserve package integrity.
• Following established procedures selects appropriate High-Level Disinfection method has basic knowledge of AER units used in the department and can perform diagnostic tests.
• Performs flexible scope cleaning.
• Utilizes approved PPE as appropriate.

Inventory Management and Case Cart Build:

• Utilizes patient specific pick lists to accurately gather surgical instruments and disposable supplies requested by attending surgeon or another Peri-Operative representative per preference card.
• Inspects items during the pick process to ensure package integrity remains intact package is within expiration date and substitutions are appropriate.
• Communicates unmet surgical supply requests to Coordinator for resolution assistance.
• Modifies picking order as directed by EMR based on changing OR Surgical Schedule.

Equipment Preventative Maintenance:

Maintains equipment through routine maintenance as required per IFU and regulatory standards. Examples include but are not limited to:

o Sterilizer strainer check and cleaning Sterilizer door gasket check for integrity and Printers roll and ink check.

o Washer arm debris check and flushing Cart and instrument washer strainer check Instrument and cart washer weekly descaling.

o Sterilizer weekly cleaning per IFU

Routine maintenance of SPD equipment is an important part of infection prevention and is a strategy that must be kept up with to keep our patients safe.

Able to troubleshoot some of the basic equipment errors and escalates as needed.

Other duties related to their jobs as assigned.

Other information:

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS :

High School Graduate or equivalent with the ability to read write and speak fluent English.

Requires a minimum of three (3) years Sterile Processing experience.

Must have Sterile Processing Certification as a CRCST or CBSPDT at time of hire.

Must have Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) Certification or its equivalent at the time of application. Must maintain certification(s) to remain in this position.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS :

• Ability to operate a personal computer is required to access and input information to prepare and maintain records.
• Ability to identify a wide variety of surgical instruments and equipment to select appropriate items for case carts and instrument sets etc.
• Ability to operate automatic washers and sterilization equipment according to equipment operating instructions.
• Organizational and numerical ability to receive count and store materials and to prepare and maintain case carts etc.

Applies and successfully passes the interview process for SPD Tech II position.

• Must be in good standing with no current corrective actions at time of application for Tech II role.
• Must maintain all required certifications.
• Required to precept other employees.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Visual and manual dexterity to operate automatic washers and sterilization equipment according to equipment operating instructions.

Physical ability to stand for long periods of time to lift and carry moderate to heavy surgical trays into sterilization unit and to receive and store supplies materials and equipment.

General hospital environment with normal conditions associated with patient care.

INDEPENDENT ACTION:

Follow policies and procedures referring complex situations to supervisor.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

None.

Brown University Health is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin age ethnicity sexual orientation ancestry genetics gender identity or expression disability protected veteran or marital status.   Brown University Health is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Location: Rhode Island Hospital USA:RI:Providence

Work Type: Full Time

Shift: Shift 1

Union: IBT