Central Sterile Processing Associate

UPMC; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus of $2,500 for eligible candidates

Comprehensive training and professional development

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Erie, PA is seeking a Central Sterile Processing Associate to support surgical services and ensure high-quality patient care. The candidate should have a high school diploma or be enrolled in a Central Sterile Processing program. Key responsibilities include cleaning, assembling, sterilizing surgical instruments, and maintaining inventory. A $2,500 sign-on bonus is offered for eligible non-certified candidates committing for 2 years. Opportunity for career advancement and ongoing training is also provided.

Qualifications

• Must be detail-oriented for maintaining surgical instruments quality.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills are essential.
• Experience in sterile processing or surgical support is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform decontamination, cleaning and sterilization of surgical instruments.
• Prepare and assemble surgical trays and equipment.
• Maintain inventory and manage reusable equipment.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Critical thinking

Effective communication skills

Ability to troubleshoot

Education

High school diploma or GED

Currently enrolled in a Central Sterile Processing Program

Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution certification

Job description

Central Sterile Processing Associate

UPMC Hamot - Erie, PA

UPMC Hamot is seeking detail‑oriented candidates to join our team as a Central Sterile Processing Associate. This role plays a critical part in supporting surgical services and ensuring safe, high‑quality patient care.

Candidates currently enrolled in a Central Sterile Processing program are highly preferred for this role.

Schedule

• Second shift availability required

Position Summary

The Central Sterile Processing Associate is responsible for performing duties related to the decontamination, cleaning, inspection, assembly, packaging, sterilization, storage, distribution, and documentation of reusable surgical instruments and equipment, in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Our Central Sterile Processing team works collaboratively to support surgical excellence and the best possible patient outcomes.

Sign‑On Bonus Opportunities

• $2,500 sign‑on bonus for eligible non‑certified candidates with a 2‑year commitment
• Additional $2,500 awarded upon certification and promotion through the career ladder

Compensation & Career Advancement

• Job title and salary will be determined based on qualifications and career ladder requirements
• Comprehensive training and ongoing professional development provided

Surgical Services Careers at UPMC (https://careers.upmc.com/surgicalservices/)

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates knowledge of performance improvement tools and techniques.
• Continuously improves the quality of care and the work environment of outcomes and the integration of research and best practices into daily work.
• Shares learning from improvements with other units and/or spreads across the business unit or system.
• Practices solid verbal and written communication skills, and is able to articulate and translate to other care providers and to negotiate and make recommendations for changes in unit practices
• Documentation is comprehensive and promotes communication between caregivers.
• Demonstrates critical thinking in the analysis of clinical, social, safety, psychological and spiritual issues.
• Incorporates national professional organization as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality and satisfaction of the patient experience in daily work.
• Creates a caring and compassionate patient focused experience by building healing relationships with colleagues.
• Disseminates new knowledge and innovations through presentations, posters, and publications.
• Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by building teams and relationships through mentoring and modeling uplifting and positive communication.
• Coaches colleagues on cultural diversity and addresses workplace horizontal violence and impairment.
• Demonstrates accountability to self and others for safe work hours, time management and healthy lifestyles.
• Demonstrates interest in the development of others and positively impacts the lives of patients/families, peers, and members of the healthcare team through mentoring, education, and knowledge sharing.
• Seeks opportunities to share expertise with other members of the healthcare team within and beyond the clinical unit/department.
• Demonstrates accountability for professional development that improves the quality of professional practice and the quality of patient care.
• Makes recommendations for the improvement of clinical care and the health of the workplace and welcomes and participates in change initiatives.
• Leads by investing and building healthy relationships among colleagues and other disciplines.
• Shows the ability to set priorities.
• Conforms and adheres to department policies concerning decontamination, sterile processing, infection control and safety.
• Cleans and decontaminates reusable equipment, instruments, and supplies, manually and mechanically.
• Prepares and assembles surgical tray and equipment following established tray listings for issue, storage, or further processing.
• Monitors, reads, documents, and interprets all parameters for all types of sterilizers to ensure proper function.
• Maintains a working knowledge of, and is able to effectively troubleshoot, all decontamination/sterilization equipment.
• Assesses supplies required for prescribed standard surgical procedures and sets up case carts.
• Maintains inventory, collects, disassembles, inspects, cleans, disinfects and reassembles all instrument trays patient care equipment.
• Communicates appropriately using good interpersonal skills.
• Displays awareness of cost containment in the organization of work by using economy in time, motion and material.
• Participates in performance improvement activities.
• Develops and improves skills through initiative, attendance and participation at educational programs
• Participates as a team member and is accountable for own work responsibilities.
• Demonstrates UPMC's commitment to the Core Values by understanding the needs of patients, their families, physicians, and co-workers and doing what is required the first time, every time by being responsible, sensitive, accurate, timely, coordinated and thorough.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by authorized personnel or as may be required to meet emergency situations
• Performs in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• High school diploma/GED or equivalent with no experience -OR- Currently enrolled in an Accredited Surgical Technician/Sterile Processing Program Preferred -OR- 1 year of experience within UPMC
• If grandfathered as a technician who does not hold certification, must complete 10 hours of continuing education to remain qualified as a Central Sterile Technician on an annual basis.
• Certified staff are required to complete 10-12 hours of continuing education as a condition of maintaining certification, as determined by the certifying body.
• Staff pending certification within 18 months of hire are not required to complete continuing education until certified.
• Must be able to stand for all shift hours and be able to pick up, push, pull etc. 35 pounds.
• Employees active in a Central Sterile position, on or before the effective date 12/27/2020, at a healthcare facility, are grandfathered regarding certification and will not need to obtain it unless they move into a different position that would require certification.
• Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution or Certified Registered Central Service Technician or International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management certification required for our PA and NY facilities (MD facilities are excluded).
• New employees in our PA and NY facilities (MD is excluded) will have 18 months from date of hire to obtain required certification.
• Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution OR Certified Registered Central Service Technician OR International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran