Sterile Processing Technician

Cone Health; Greensboro (NC); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Cone Health Medical Group is seeking a Sterile Processing Technician I to join our hospital operations. You will decontaminate, assemble, and sterilize instruments, support QA processes, and ensure compliance with infection control standards.

The role emphasizes teamwork, attention to detail, and adherence to documented procedures in a fast-paced clinical setting. Experience in a hospital or sterile processing environment is preferred, with high school diploma required and an associate degree

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Preferred: Associate degree.
• Six months of hospital or sterile processing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support team members with disassembling, assembling, packaging and sterilization as needed.
• Has comprehensive knowledge of disassembling, assembling, packaging and sterilization.
• Exhibits knowledge in determining methods to care for instruments: hand washing, mechanical washing, or high-level disinfection.
• Supports team members to ensure cleaning of mobile patient equipment.
• Inspects instruments and equipment for proper function and damage.
• Knows the operation of decontamination equipment for cleaning, loading and troubleshooting.
• Monitors quality control and corrects quality problems before release.
• Performs biological monitoring to ensure sterilization efficacy.
• Ensures instruments and decontamination equipment are tested for bioburden residual.
• Participates in quality assurance and audits trays for compliance.
• Maintains and compiles sterilization records and documentation.
• Releases instrumentation after sterilization only after required tests.
• Follows up on process variations.
• Fills supply requests and ensures timely delivery to units.
• Adheres to department policies, safety, and infection control standards.
• Collaborates with team and other departments to support patient care.

Skills

Sterile processing

Quality control

Biological monitoring

Record keeping

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Associate's Degree

Tools

Decontamination equipment

Job description

The Sterile Processing Technician I is responsible for properly decontaminating, assembling, and sterilizing medical equipment and instruments in order to comply with safety standards and provide quality patient care.

Essential Job Function

• Support team members with disassembling, assembling, packaging and sterilization as needed.


• Has comprehensive knowledge of disassembling, assembling, packaging and sterilization.


• Exhibits knowledge in determining the methods to be used to care for instruments: hand washing, mechanical washing, or high-level disinfection, especially in the removal of protein and corrosion and in the sorting for repair.


• Supports team members to ensure appropriate cleaning of mobile patient equipment.


• Inspects important points in instruments and equipment to ensure they are functioning properly and there is no damage.


• Demonstrates knowledge of the function and operation of the decontamination equipment for optimum cleaning, loading, temperature and troubleshooting if malfunctions.


• Monitors quality control and identifies quality problems and proactively corrects them prior to the product leaving the department.


• Performs biological monitoring to ensure quality and efficacy of the sterilization equipment.


• Ensures all instruments and decontamination equipment are tested for bioburden residual.


• Participates in a proactive quality assurance program randomly audits sample trays following established protocol documenting failures to ensure quality on the end product.


• Ensures that all records and documentation are properly compiled and maintained (such as sterilization records, temperature recording, etc) Demonstrates the ability to perform and interpret efficacy test results for the sterilization process, high-level disinfection, and washer decontaminators.


• Understand protocols for releasing instrumentation after sterilization and complete all required tests and documentation before a tray is released for use.


• Follows up if there are variations in the process.


• Accurately fills supply requests from the procedural areas and ensures items ordered are delivered speedily to the correct unit.


• Actively participates in maintaining established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, and quality improvement, safety, and environmental and infection control standards.


• Proactively works with team and other departments to ensure effective and efficient patient care.


• Demonstrates flexibility in thinking and actions, understanding team dynamics.


• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or equivalentPreferred: Associate's Degree

Experience

• Preferred: Six months of experience in a hospital environment or sterile processing department