Sterile Processing Technician I

Advocate Health; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health in Milwaukee seeks a Sterilization Technician to ensure proper handling, decontamination, and sterilization of surgical instruments and equipment. You will maintain documentation, prepare case carts, and support the sterile processing area in a fast-paced hospital setting.

No prior experience is required; a High School diploma is the baseline, and familiarity with medical terminology is advantageous. Rotating weekends/holidays and on-site work are expected.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• No prior experience required.
• Ability to function in a fast-paced healthcare environment and understand medical terminology.

Responsibilities

• Sterilize instruments and equipment using autoclaves or other sterilizers.
• Maintain proper decontamination, cleaning, and packaging of surgical instruments.
• Assemble trays, wrap sets, and prepare case carts per procedure and physician preferences.
• Receive and record orders for supplies; maintain inventory and stock levels.
• Assist with general cleaning and organization of the sterile processing area and equipment.

Skills

Knowledge of sterilization principles

Ability to work in fast paced enviro

Familiarity with medical terminology

Education

High School graduate

Tools

Autoclaves

Sterilizers

Sonic cleaners

Job description

• Processes and maintains proper care of all surgical instruments and equipment, scopes and powered surgical instruments which includes inspection, evaluation of proper function, cleaning disinfecting and sterilization. Maintains quality control and documentation records of the sterilization process. Distributes designated supplies and equipment to all areas of the medical center.
• Receives soiled and contaminated items in decontamination area. Sorts equipment, rinses as needed, places equipment through sonic tanks and washers, reassembles trays, performs safety checks, hangs and sorts instruments, wraps sets according to set policy, and wraps towels and basins appropriately.
• Sterilizes instruments and equipment using the aerator, gas sterilizer or steam sterilizer and operates glass dryer. Packages items in steri/peel as required. Performs quality assurance testing for all methods of sterilization to ensure sterility of supplies. Hand cleans miscellaneous instruments (Baxter pump, hypothermo units, etc.) and operates the cart cleaner.
• Ensures proper care and handling of high cost instrumentation and equipment to include items requiring special handling, laser instrumentation, orthopedic implants, cardiac assist devices, endoscopic and microscopic instrumentation.
• May build case carts according to procedure and physician preference as specified. File case cart sheets and requisitions, responds to Code 4s with defibrillator and back up supplies, maintains CPR annies, tests autoclaves with the tests according to procedure, and changes graphs as necessary.
• Checks incoming trays and follows up with departments as to missing instruments or parts.
• Takes immediate and appropriate action if a question of sterilizer failure occurs.
• Receives and records orders for supplies as requested by departments. Records accurate product number and assures all forms are correctly completed for proper billing. Marks, dates and stocks equipment, which may include returning to appropriate department on a timely basis.
• Opens and unpacks supply boxes, checking for damaged goods and number of items received. Reports any discrepancies to the supervisor. Performs credits for unused products returned, checks stock levels, copies supply sheets, checks carts for outdated supplies, and performs general cleaning of shelves.
• May performs various patient positioning and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.

Scheduled Hours

Rotating weekends and holidays

Licenses & Certifications

None Required.

Degrees

High School Graduate.

Required Functional Experience

No experience required

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Ability to function in fast paced stressful, environment.Knowledge of sterilization principles and applications.Familiarity with medical terminology.