Sterile Processing Department Liaison Coordinator

Brown-University-Health-1; Providence (RI); On-site; USD 29,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Brown University Health is seeking a Sterile Processing Operations supervisor on dayshift at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. You will oversee decontamination, cleaning, sterilization, assembly and preparation of instruments and trays for the OR, and you will schedule staff.

You will train staff, coordinate with OR leads, and ensure instrument flow meets surgical start times. Strong leadership, communication and analytical skills are essential, as you will monitor compliance with health

Qualifications

• High School level knowledge with ability to operate a PC.
• Formal coursework in sterilization techniques and CRCST certification within 12 months.
• Experience with sterile processing principles and OR instrumentation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensures continuity and quality of service by coordinating SPD/OR activities and case cart flow.
• Maintains daily communication with OR management on instrument needs and priorities.
• Meets with OR staff and surgeons to resolve instrument-related issues.
• Assigns staff and manages workload in collaboration with SPD supervisors.
• Assists planning instrument turnarounds and communicates impact on surgery start times.
• Reviews surgical tray accuracy and resolves discrepancies.
• Performs SPD tech duties as needed and supports department operations.
• Supervisory responsibilities include training and evaluating up to 10 FTEs.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

Multi-tasking

Customer-centric

Education

CRCST certification

High School diploma

Tools

Case cart system

Instrument processing

Job description

SUMMARY

Reporting to Supervisor of Sterile Processing Operations, oversees dayshift reprocessing staff duties related to decontamination, cleaning, sterilization, assembly and preparation of instruments and trays for use in Hospital’s operating rooms. Schedules staff: conducts orientation and training activities including in-service events, assigns work and evaluates performance. Establishes and updates priorities to meet anticipated and emergent needs in accordance with supervisor’s direction. Performs all duties related to operating room sterile processing staff as required to meet customer needs or workload requirements. Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensures continuity and quality of service by providing support to SPD/OR in cooperation with ACM’s OR Leads and SPD supervisors through the proper coordination of the case cart system, proper scheduling, and constant communication between the two departments.

Daily communication with OR management and SPD leadership on instrument needs turns, and frictions.

Meets with and works with Operating Room staff and surgeons as required.

• Ensures accuracy and completeness of all administrative documents and functions related to the position.


• For example, accurate preference cards, pick sheets and other forms related to case cart system.


• Conducts instrument processing satisfaction survey audits as needed.


• All request/needs from the OR are funneled through Coordinator to Supervisor and vice versa to keep track of instrument flow and needs throughout the shift. This will help with a smoother workflow and accountability while preventing influx of calls to the department and inefficiencies.


• Assigns staff assignments as needed in collaboration with the SPD supervisors.


• Assist with the planning and coordination of instrument turnarounds and communicate with the surgical team regarding information that may affect surgery start time.


• Review the accuracy of surgical trays and resolve any discrepancies that may arise.


• Perform data analysis to understand trends and identify operational issues within the Operating Room and Sterile Processing Department.


• Assists the Instrument Management Supervisor in the routing of instrumentation for routine sharpening by obtaining and completing required forms for approval.


• Documents and sends broken instrumentation out for repair.


• Completes documentation as required for inventory/equipment requests, instrument sets, etc.


• Orders and procures loaner instrumentation.


• Shares knowledge with co-workers through open communication at huddles and in-services for continuous upgrading of skills.


• Acts as preceptor as needed to ensure proper training of all new SPD Techs especially in the CORE area and anything concerning case cart systems.


• Ensures proper operational processes are followed by all members of the APD, OR and Vendor team in conjunction with the Department of Health, TJC, OSHA, CDC, AAMI, AORN standards, facilities policies, and procedures.


• Performs SPD Tech duties as needed.


• Performs other duties as needed.

Coverers for absent supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High School level of knowledge, including ability to operate personal computer. Additional formal coursework in sterilization techniques, with certification as central service technician (CRCST) within a year of acquiring position.

• Certified in related field with two or more years’ experience and have the ability to obtain certification within 12 months.


• Knowledge of human anatomy and medical terminology.


• Knowledge and understanding of a variety of OR procedures’ surgical instruments.


• Knowledge of OR workflow, procedures, medical terminology, instrumentation.


• Knowledge of infection control and health & safety policies and procedures.


• Ability to communicate effectively with supervisor, coworkers and all levels of leadership that includes the Operating Room and physicians.


• Demonstrated customer centric behavior.


• Proficient analytical skills.


• Demonstrated ability to identify, plan, and resolve issues in complex situations.


• Ability to multi-task projects including the ability to plan and organize.


• Flexible and self-motivated.

EXPERIENCE

Two or more years related experience in a similarly complex surgical services environment. Experience should demonstrate thorough knowledge of effective sterilizing techniques and experience in processing variety of surgical instruments used in services such as cardiovascular, neurosurgery, orthopedics, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, pediatrics, genitourinary and plastic surgery. Demonstrated effective organizational, communication and leadership skills. Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Works in reprocessing area with exposure to detergents and cleaning agents, cuts, punctures and burns when decontaminating, cleaning, wrapping and sterilizing equipment and instruments.

Hazards are minimized by following established safety procedures and precautions. Physical ability to stand for long period of time, to lift and carry moderately heavy surgical trays, and to push carts into sterilization unit.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Leadership responsibilities, including training, work assignment and performance evaluation of up to 10 ftes.

PAY RANGE

$20.96-$34.61

EEO STATEMENT

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

LOCATION

Rhode Island Hospital - 593 Eddy Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903

WORK TYPE

M-F 2:00pm-10:30pm weekend/holiday on-call rotation

WORK SHIFT

Evening

DAILY HOURS

8 hours

DRIVING REQUIRED

No