Sterile Processing Supervisor

Huggins Hospital; Wolfeboro (NH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Huggins Hospital in New Hampshire is seeking a Sterile Processing Supervisor to oversee the SPD team, ensure compliance with CMS, AAMI, AORN, and APIC standards, and manage instrument inventory and budget. The role requires leadership, staff development, and collaboration with Facilities to maintain equipment readiness.

The supervisor will lead quality improvement efforts, ensure adherence to IFU, and coordinate training and competency validation for staff in a fast-paced surgical services

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years Sterile Processing Supervisory experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of Sterile Processing experience.
• Certified in Sterile Processing (CSPDT).
• Endoscopy Certification.
• Instrument Specialist Certification.
• CHL Leadership Certification.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the Sterile Processing department operations and staff to ensure timely and safe instrument availability.
• Ensure compliance with CMS, AAMI, AORN, APIC and other regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with Facilities Maintenance to manage preventive maintenance and equipment inventory; manage budget.
• Lead SPD quality improvement and LEAN initiatives to optimize departmental flow.
• Provide training, competency validation, and orientation for new staff; enforce safety and IFU adherence.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Lean concepts

Communication skills

Team leadership

Education

CSPDT Certification

Endoscopy Certification

Instrument Specialist Certification

CHL Leadership Certification

Leadership Certification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Under the general supervision of the Director Surgical Services, is responsible for supervision of Sterile Processing departmental operations providing patient care equipment and surgical instrumentation reprocessing functions including: collection, decontamination, assembly, sterilization, high-level disinfection and distribution. Manages the surgical instrument inventory and supplies supporting departmental activities. Serves as subject matter expert and resource for product reprocessing needs. Responsible for departmental regulatory compliance using AAMI, AORN and IAHCSMM Standards. Develops and ensures compliance with departmental budget. Supervises departmental staff, departmental equipment and plant property. Works collaboratively with other departments and units to ensure efficient, safe and effective instrument and equipment availability. Models excellence in customer service, ensuring the highest standards for both internal and external constituent satisfaction.

Operational Standards & Regulatory Compliance

1. Assures departmental standards of operation and policies are in compliance with regulatory and professional agencies, including but not limited to CMS, AAMI, AORN, APIC. Annually reviews policies, adds or updates policies as needed
2. Monitors and maintains appropriate records to remain compliant with requirements of applicable regulatory agencies; monitors and maintains Instructions For Use (IFUs) for all surgical equipment and instrumentation in the surgical arena
3. In collaboration with Facilities Maintenance Department, establishes a preventive maintenance program for Sterile Processing equipment. Maintains adequate inventory of equipment to meet Medical Center requirements
4. Ensures that all equipment, i.e Steam Sterilizers, Sterrad Instrument Washers and Sonic Cleaners are being maintained to manufacturer's specifications. These records will be maintained by the Sterile Processing department. Effectively anticipate and respond to equipment issues as they arise
5. Schedules staff and work to ensure cases have instruments and equipment when needed. Monitors and adheres to labor and expense budgets. Maintains reports in appropriate cycles for department performance and staff attendance. surgical arena

Financial Stewardship & Quality Improvement

1. Demonstrates thorough knowledge of systems: Instrument Tracking, Case Cart, Patient Charging, Materials Management and Budget, as they relate to the SPD department
2. Collaborates on department budget and capital equipment needs with the Director of Surgical Services and the Finance Department. Responsible for maintaining fiscally responsible practices and meets budget expectations
3. Follows established industry best practice and hospital infection control practices and procedures
4. Effectively acts as a liaison between Central Service and other departments to provide technical advice and consultation regarding processing, sterilizing or linen handling procedures in order to minimize the risk of infection
5. Leads SPD quality improvement and LEAN initiatives to optimize departmental flow and efficiencies. Participates in organizational quality improvement

Sterile Processing Team Development

1. Facilitates the recruitment and selection of central sterile processing staff. Provides staff with ongoing feedback and documents appropriately including input for performance evaluations
2. Develops a comprehensive departmental orientation for new staff
3. Routinely coordinates training and competency validation for all
4. Ensures staff work is performed within prescribed technical and safety standards Provides or coordinates instructions and in-service on new products, procedures and equipment to identify and prevent resource loss and maintains patient and staff safety
5. Ensures staff attend technical and mandatory training/education

Sterile Processing Technical Expertise

1. Supervises SPD technicians and manages the Sterile Processing Department to achieve established operational performance and quality goals. Demonstrates ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a, "hands-on", "leadership by example", manner adjusting to issues as needed in a dynamic work environment. Demonstrates the ability to prioritize and effectively anticipate and respond to issues as they arise
2. Organizes, directs and controls the daily functions of the departments in such a manner as to provide a high level of service to all user areas and at the same time minimize the risk of cross contamination or infection
3. Responsible for; the decontamination, assembly, high level disinfection, sterilization, prep, pack and distribution and inventory of sterile products, documentation of sterilization; and sterile storage including remediation of equipment failures and hazards of the surgical instruments, equipment and supplies needed for daily surgical procedures. Plans ahead to maintain readiness for upcoming booked cases and plans for emergent surgical case needs
4. Ensures optimal sterile processing performance; through quality control and quality assurance of all Sterile Processing activities and equipment. Monitors and reports equipment operational status. Recommends equipment changes, upgrades and additions to meet manufacturer's instructions for use (IFU) for all items processed

Organizational Expectations

1. Attendance: Attendance is an essential job function; employee comes to work daily, on time, and completes scheduled shift
2. HIPAA: facilitates to maintain patient confidentiality
3. Internal communication: contributes to positive team performance and a culture of service excellence through effective communication, active listening, and respect
4. Interpersonal relationships: maintains appropriate interpersonal relationships with staff, patients, and visitors at all times. Works as a team member with other departments.
5. Safety: Practices workplace safety daily

Employee Engagement

1. Actively participates in all hospital Service Excellence initiatives and trainings
2. Attends and participates in a minimum of 50% department staff meetings and signs off on review of 100% department staff meeting minutes
3. Completes all required annual education on or before the due date

Knowledge Skills and Abilities :

Individuals must possess these knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the primary functions of the job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, using some combination of skills and abilities and possess the necessary physical requirements, with or without a reasonable accommodation, to safely perform the essential functions of the job.

• Minimal physical effort required with occasional light lifting to a maximum of 25 pounds; stooping; and pick, pinch, type, or otherwise work primarily with fingers
• Ability to effectively manage considerable mental stress
• Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word
• Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication
• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and convey information in a clear, concise and accurate manner
• Familiarity with computer and other business machines

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2 years Sterile Processing Supervisory experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of Sterile Processing experience.
• Computer proficient, using MS Office, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Project Management, Lean concepts, Organizational Behavior and Change Management
• Certified in Sterile Processing (CSPDT)
• Endoscopy Certification
• Instrument Specialist Certification
• CHL Leadership Certification