Sterile Processing Specialist: Instrument Care & OR Support

Atlas-Healthcare-Partners-LLC; Glendale (AZ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Group is seeking a Sterilization Technician to manage decontamination, assembly and packaging of surgical instruments. You will ensure proper cleaning, identification and distribution of instruments, while maintaining sterile processing standards.

Responsibilities include operating sterilizers, maintaining detailed logs, and coordinating with the Operating Room to prioritize instrument requests and support timely patient care.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and BLS certification are required.
• Current national certification as SPD Technician or CST is required.
• Experience with sterilizing instruments and maintaining sterile processing standards.

Responsibilities

• Decontaminates, assembles and packages instruments per protocol.
• Repairs, reassembles and stores specialized surgical instruments as needed.
• Maintains logs and records for sterilization processes and equipment.
• Operates sterilizers and ensures proper use per IFU and policy.
• Responds to OR requests and prioritizes instrument needs for timely service.

Skills

Sterilization

Instrument handling

Infection control

Mechanical aptitude

Education

High school diploma

BLS certification

SPD/CST certification

Job description

Status: Full-TIme

POSITION SUMMARY

Responsible for the proper care and handling of all general and specialty instruments including the cleaning, decontamination, instrument identification, assembly, packaging and distribution, and sterilization of surgical instrumentation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Decontaminates, assembles and packages all instruments following established protocols as well as perform necessary repairs, reassembles and stores specialized surgical instruments. Prepares all order requests as necessary for replacement parts for instruments and additional equipment as necessary or upon request of physicians.
• Maintains a clean and safe environment by adhering to Standard Precautions and Infection Control practices. Staff will don proper Personnel Protective equipment (PPE), follows protocols for decontamination process referencing Instructions for Use (IFU) supplied by the manufacturers.
• Identifies instruments for all specialties and assures proper function. Follows protocol for repair or replacement of instruments that are not functioning properly. Assembles and packages all instrumentation and sets according to dept. protocol. Utilizes equipment according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and hospital policy.
• Operates steam autoclaves, ETO and Gas Plasma sterilizers. Maintains appropriate logs and records relating to the sterilization process, including the Ethylene Oxide Aeration Records, Sterilizer Load Records, and Biological Monitoring Records.
• Responds to problem calls from the Operating Room and performs preliminary investigation. Determines priority level of instrumentation and equipment requests and other hospital needs. Directs services in a competent and professional manner while assuring OR priorities are completed in a timely manner.

Performs all functions according to established policies, procedures, regulatory and accreditation requirements, as well as applicable professional standards. Provides all customers with an excellent service experience by consistently demonstrating our core and leader behaviors each and every day.

NOTE: The essential functions are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Specific tasks or responsibilities will be documented as outlined by the incumbent's immediate manager.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED and BLS certification required.
• Requires current national certification as a SPD Technician, Certified Registered Central Service Technician or Surgical Instrument Processor and relevant experience with sterilizing instruments which qualifies the candidate for the national certification exam or certified registration.

Must have mechanical aptitude with the ability to break down moving parts, clean, lubricate and reassemble, problem solve incomplete trays and missing instrumentation and have effective organizational, communication and human relation skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Additional related education and/or experience preferred.