Sterile Processing Technician I

Aurora Health Care; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee is seeking a Sterile Processing Technician to ensure proper cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of surgical instruments and equipment. You will inspect, test, and package trays, maintain documentation, and support departments with supplies.

No experience is required beyond a High School Diploma; the role demands accuracy in a fast-paced hospital environment. Rotating weekends and holidays are possible.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required.
• No experience required.
• Familiarity with sterilization principles and medical terminology.

Responsibilities

• Process and maintain sterilization of surgical instruments and equipment.
• Inspect and evaluate function, clean, disinfect and sterilize.
• Maintain quality control documentation of the sterilization process.
• Distribute supplies and equipment to all areas of the medical center.
• Operate autoclaves, aerators, sterilizers and related equipment.
• Check incoming trays and resolve instrument shortages.
• May assist with patient positioning and transporting duties.

Skills

Sterilization principles

Medical terminology

Fast-paced environment

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Autoclave

Sterilizer (gas/steam)

Sonic washer

Cart cleaner

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.