Lead Sterile Processing Technician - Kings Hwy

Ochsner Health; Shreveport (LA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Ochsner Health is seeking a Sterile Processing Coordinator to lead liaison efforts between Sterile Processing and the OR, ensuring instrument availability and resolving issues for cases.

You will perform audits, support junior staff, and collaborate with Supervisors and Managers on staffing, training, and process improvements. Strong data skills and clinical familiarity are essential.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or 5 years sterile processing experience.
• CRCST, CSPDT, CST certifications required.
• 2 years experience in sterile processing; scrub tech experience in a hospital setting preferred.
• Leadership experience: 1 year leading teams preferred.
• Proficient with Windows-based software and data entry.

Responsibilities

• Communicate instrument and supply needs before surgical cases and ensure availability; resolve issues.
• Troubleshoot instrumentation needs related to tray additions and reconfigurations; communicate needs to supervisor.
• Authorize and dispense equipment requests from verbal, written or telephone requisitions.
• Serve as liaison for OR/SPD personnel and physicians to resolve issues before, during and after cases.
• Review sterilization/expiration dates and the integrity of sterile packaging.
• Monitor needs and turnover lists to prioritize emergency requisitions and required supplies.
• Provide shift report information to supervisor.
• Perform quality audits on instrument sets and case carts.
• Monitor OR sterilizers and assist with IUSS in OR.
• Restock instrumentation in surgical cores and ensure storage meets standards.
• Work with OR to service instrumentation trays per repair schedule (Abacus).
• Function as SPT as needed.
• Adapt communication to patient population.

Skills

Data entry

Verbal communication

Written communication

Problem solving

Team leadership

Education

Associate's degree

CRCST certification

CSPDT certification

CST certification

Tools

Windows-based software

Hospital data systems

Abacus system

Job description

This job is primarily responsible for functioning as a lead liaison between Sterile Processing and the OR. Responsibilities include performing quality audits to instrumentation accuracy, providing case cart and monitoring the availability of instruments while resolving instrumentation issues. The Sterile Processing Coordinator will function as a point of contact for other Sterile Processing Technicians, providing technical support and knowledge to junior staff. In this capacity, the Coordinator will work closely with Supervisors and Managers to implement process improvements, staffing, and training. This position will also performs data collection and special projects related to performance improvement and staff satisfaction.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at the company’s discretion.

Education

Required – Associate's degree or 5 years experience in sterile processing

Preferred - Study or training in the field of Health Science

Work Experience

Required –2 year experience working in sterile processing, working as a scrub tech or surgical tech within a hospital setting

Preferred –1 years of experience leading teams

Certifications

Required - Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST)

Required - OR Certified Sterile Processing Department Technician (CSPDT)

Required - OR Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Must have computer skills and dexterity required for data entry and retrieval of information.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present information clearly and professionally.
• Ability to communicate with peers and subordinates to accomplish departmental objectives.
• Understanding of a clinical setting and operations of a large health care system.
• Must be proficient with Windows-style applications, various software packages specific to role and keyboard.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several variables in routine and/or emergency situations.

Job Duties

• Communicates with supervisor and staff prior to any / all surgical cases to ascertain instrument and supply needs and ensures items are available; resolve issues / offer alternatives when necessary.
• Troubleshoots instrumentation needs related to tray additions and reconfigurations; communicating order needs to manager or designee.
• Authorizes and dispenses products requested by verbal, written or telephone requisitions for equipment and supplies.
• Serves as the liaison for OR/Sterile Processing Department (SPD) personnel and physicians to resolve issues that may arise before, during and after cases.
• Reviews sterilization/expiration dates and the integrity of sterile packaging.
• Reports inoperable equipment to SPD and OR.
• Monitors needs and turnover lists to identify and assign priority to emergency requisitions and required supplies and equipment based on knowledge of procedure requested; identifies items to be reprocessed for additional cases; communicates information to OR and SPD to limit delays.
• Provides shift report information to supervisor or designee.
• Performs quality audits on instrument sets and case carts.
• Monitors OR sterilizers and assists with IUSS in OR.
• Monitors OR & SPD shelves for critical items, peel packs and loaners.
• Restocking of instrumentation in surgical cores.
• Ensure instrumentation storage meeting organizational standards.
• Work with OR to have instrumentation trays serviced based upon repair schedule setup in Abacus.
• Functions as SPT as needed.
• Adapts behavior to the specific patient population, including but not limited to: respect for privacy, method of introduction to the patient, adapting explanation of services or procedures to be performed, requesting permissions and communication style.
• Other related duties as required.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time.

Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations and standards.

This employer maintains and complies with its Compliance & Privacy Program and Standards of Conduct, including the immediate reporting of any known or suspected unethical or questionable behaviors or conduct; patient/employee safety, patient privacy, and/or other compliance-related concerns.

The employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected class, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Physical and Environmental Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Very Heavy Work - Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Heavy Work. (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible.

Must be able to work a flexible work schedule (e.g. 24/7, weekend, holiday, on call availability).
Must be able to travel throughout and between facilities.

Duties performed routinely require exposure to blood, body fluid and tissue.

The incumbent works in a patient care area; works in an area where patients enter; works directly with patients; and/or works with specimens that could contain communicable diseases. There may be an occupational risk for exposure to communicable diseases.

Because the incumbent works within a healthcare setting, there may be occupational risk for exposure to hazardous medications or hazardous waste within the environment through receipt, transport, storage, preparation, dispensing, administration, cleaning and/or disposal of contaminated waste. The risk level of exposure may increase depending on the essential job duties of the role.

Please refer to the job description to determine whether the position you are interested in is remote or on-site. Individuals who reside in and will work from the following areas are not eligible for remote work position: Colorado, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Washington D.C.