Level I - Sterile Processing Technician
070 - UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital
Norwich, NY
5x8 hrs

Work Environment

• Must be able to lift minimum of  <50lbs
• Stand or walk for long periods of time
• Use a computer to document tasks, assemble sets, and document sterilization cycles
• Work in areas where temperatures can vary from cold to warmer
• Required to wear appropriate PPE. Hospital issued scrubs, head bonnet, beard cover, gloves, shoe covers, impervious gown, heat resist mittens, badge to monitor fume exposure
• Potential burns from high temperature steam sterilizers, loading carts and or handling of concentrated hydrogen peroxide
• Exposure to bodily fluids and other related blood biohazardous gross substances
  • Include contact, fluid and airborne infections
• Potential punctures from sharp instruments, syringes, and scalpels
• Exposure to NFPA Health Hazardous chemicals;
  • Carcinogenic and highly flammable Ethylene Oxide
  • Live bacterial spores, biological indicators
  • Concentrated hydrogen peroxide
  • Liquid chemical enzymatic detergents
• Exposure to loud equipment noise.
• Potential falls and splashing while in decontamination due to nature of assignment.
• Neoprene gloves are available to handle Ethylene oxide gas.
• Personal environment badges (8 hour and 15 minutes) required while operating Ethylene Oxide sterilizers.
• Rotated work assignments dispensing, decontamination, assembly, sterilization etc.
• Rotate work sites from WMC, ASC, BGH
• Speak fluently with nurses, surgeons, and other peri-operative personnel

Training

• Required to train under SPD Tech Lv 2 or higher until certification is obtained
  • Acquire certification upon 18 months of hire
• Training will include but not limited to
  • Sterilizer quality assurance and testing
    • High temperature steam, low temperature hydrogen peroxide, ethylene oxide sterilization,
  • Decontamination workflow and process
    • Manual sinks, enzymatic detergents, enzymatic dosing system, instrument cleaning brushes
    • Quality assurance testing on Ultrasonic baths, enzymatic dosing system, and instrument washer disinfector
  • Instrument processing
    • How to follow instrument count sheets/recipe
    • Instrument quality testing and visual inspections
    • Wrapping or containerization
    • Cannula inspection
    • Residual protein cleanliness check
  • Instrument dryer
• Instrument Tracking system
  • Sterilization documentation
  • Decontamination documentation
  • Assembly decontamination
  • Documenting department tasks
  • Documenting quality events
• Training provided on Hospital units and customers served
• Provided lesson plans, educational in-services, and training provided by SPD educator

HIPAA Roles-Based Access to Patient Information

• Coded – Access to diagnosis codes/service codes/billing information – Level 2
• Access to view Epic Perioperative Schedule to anticipate instrument needs

Staff Supervised

• None
• SPD Tech Level 1 will be supervised until certification is obtained

Education/Experience

Minimum Requirements :

• High School Diploma or equivalent

Preferred:

• 1 year previous SPD (certified or uncertified) or Operating Room experience.
• Surgical inventory experience

License/Certification

Minimum Required:

• Certification as a Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician is required within 18 months of hire (400 hours of experience required to sit for exam)

Preferred:

• Not Applicable

Job Responsibilities
• Drives the commitment for exceptional patient experience
• Performs equipment quality tests such as cleaning washer screens, spray arms, protein tests, and daily maintenance checks on sterilizers
Utilizes various decontamination and sterilization equipment including mechanical washers, ultrasonic washers, high- and low-temperature sterilizers, Ethylene Oxide (ETO)
sterilizers, and instrument dryers
•Retrieves and receives used instruments and equipment from clinical areas in an aseptic manner to prevent cross-contamination and reduce exposure risks, following OSHA
standards
• Documents all reusable medical devices upon receipt in the decontamination area using an instrument tracking system
• Applies industry-leading manual cleaning methods with appropriate detergents, brushes, and PPE, followed by mechanical cleaning processes
• Conducts thorough quality inspections on instruments, including testing sharpness, using boroscopes, checking for residue proteins, and assessing for pitting or corrosion
• Assembles surgical sets and equipment following manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs) and count sheets to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Performs quality checks on wrapped or containerized sets prior to sterilization to verify integrity and proper packaging
• Selects the correct sterilization method and cycle, monitors equipment performance, and documents chemical and biological testing outcomes
• Handles ETO sterilization in compliance with safety standards, including aeration, emergency procedures, and proper PPE use; maintains current certification in ETO safety
• Performs visual inspections for chemical indicator color change and aseptically distributes sterile instruments to appropriate units
• Cleans, disinfects, stores, distributes, and tracks reusable durable medical equipment such as IV pumps, SCDs, and PCA machines
• Maintains inventory levels and ensures sterile items and equipment are stored properly and ready for timely distribution
• Fulfills and restocks adult and pediatric crash carts as well as trauma carts to ensure readiness for emergencies
Gains proficiency in surgical instrument specialties including General, Orthopedic, Vascular, Plastic, Cardio Thoracic, Neuro, Ophthalmic, ENT, GYN, Podiatry, Urology, Cystoscopy,
Dental, and Dermatology
• Reviews daily surgical schedules to anticipate and prepare for instrument turnover needs for upcoming procedures or next-day cases

#IND1

Under general direction performs Sterile Processing Department duties, which include but are not limited to manual decontamination, operating mechanical washers, assembly, packaging, sterilization, operating various sterilizers, equipment and instrument quality inspections, ordering supplies and distribution of reusable surgical instrumentation and medical devices. Following UHS Sterile Processing and Infection control policies must be able to interpret, maintain and document sterilization records in the electric instrument tracking system. Provide for and track all UHS inpatient units, off site clinical areas and outpatient clinics reusable instrumentation. All to provide positive patient outcomes by meeting the needs of our customers identified as physicians, clinical units, ancillary areas, clinics and UHS affiliates.