General Description:

Under general supervision, responsible for cleaning, decontamination, assembly, packaging and sterilization of surgical instrumentation and reusable supply items.  Coordinates and prepares necessary supplies and instruments for emergent and routine surgical cases.

Essential Responsibilities:

Responsibilities listed in this section are core to the position.  Inability to perform these responsibilities with or without an accommodation may result in disqualification from the position. 

• Assembles and wraps instrument sets.
• Ensures proper use of sterilized sonic cleaners and other related equipment.
• Retrieves and delivers surgical instruments on a timely basis.
• Thoroughly inspects instruments to insure all instruments are clean and in good repair/working order prior to sterilization process.
• Decontaminates instruments using proper chemical mixtures and procedure. 
• Tests, operates and loads autoclaves.
• Participates in the routine cleaning and decontamination of all department work surfaces. 
• Completes sterilization log sheets. 
• Periodically checks sterile inventory in order to remove those items in which sterilization has expired or packaging has been compromised. 
• Re-sterilizes compromised instrument sets.
• Identifies and notifies appropriate personnel of inventory or supply shortages.
• May assist in training new staff.
• Performs tasks necessary to prepare and maintain accurate Case Carts. 
• Pulls needed supplies and instruments for cases. 
• Coordinates with operating room staff to ensure that proper supplies for each case are delivered as needed. 
• Maintains optimal levels of patient care surgical supplies and/or equipment. 

• Practices good inventory control techniques by following FIFO (first in, first out) practice.

General Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: High School Diploma or GED

Experience: Six (6) months of related experience

License(s)/Certification(s)/Registration(s) Required: Technician certification from either the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) or from the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:   Knowledge of maintenance and sterilization of medical supplies and equipment.  Knowledge of applicable sanitation and hygiene standards.  Knowledge of proper safety practices of steam and gas plasma sterilization.  Knowledge of simple record keeping principles and practices.  Skill in understanding and following verbal and written instructions. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Effective customer service skills.  Able to read, spell and do simple math.  Good computer skills.  Ability to work effectively under pressure.