Sterilization Services Technician

Tufts Medical Center, Inc.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Tufts Medicine seeks a Central Services Technician to decontaminate, assemble, and sterilize instruments used hospital-wide. You will receive, sort, and prepare items for sterilization, inspect and package kits, and document processes in tracking systems.

This role supports sterile processing workflows and case-cart readiness with strict infection control adherence. Daily duties include loading sterilizers, performing routine tests, maintaining instrument integrity, and ensuring accurate

Qualifications

• Decontaminate, assemble, and sterilize hospital instruments.
• Receive, sort, decontaminate items; inspect and package kits.
• Identify appropriate sterilization methods and document processes.
• Maintain inventory and ensure case cart readiness.
• Follow infection control standards and PPE guidance.

Responsibilities

• Receive soiled equipment from OR and care areas.
• Disassemble items and select cleaning methods.
• Document sterilization cycles and tracking entries.
• Load sterilizers and monitor cycles, perform basic tests.
• Inspect packaging and ensure labels and indicators are correct.
• Transport items to sterilization and return to stock.

Skills

Equipment operation

Instrumentation knowledge

Instruction comprehension

Procedural conscientiousness

Adherence to guidelines

Deadline-driven

Communication skills

Medical terminology

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

CRCST or CBSPD certification within 6 months

Central Processing certification program

Tools

Instrument tracking software

Microsoft Office

Job description

This role focuses on activities related to the support services functions, such as dietary and food services, environmental services, general facilities, repair and maintenance, parking, sterilization and transportation to ensure all required support activities are completed in a timely manner and meet the organization's quality standards and expectations . In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Sterilization Services duties: Maintains sterile equipment, assembles medical equipment, maintains inventory, orders supplies , and provides life‑saving instruments to those performing medical procedures. A clinical technologist role that has specialized knowledge or skills gained through a combination of vocational education, training, and experience. This role will be most commonly applied to patient care and/or scientific/laboratory jobs. An entry-level role typically requiring little to no prior knowledge or experience and requiring vocational or technical education . Work is routine or follows standard procedures, is closely supervised, and communicates information that requires little explanation or interpretation.

Job Overview

Job Description

This position is responsible for the decontamination, assembly , and sterilization of all instruments used throughout the hospital including general surgical instrumentation. Responsibilities include receiving, sorting , and decontamination of surgical/clinic items and instrumentation; inspection and packaging of single instruments and instrument kits; identification of appropriate sterilization method and cycle selection, appropriate documentation for all sterile processes; and accurate inventory assignment relating to the case cart build process.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Central Services Technician National Certification (CRCST) OR Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) within 6 months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Completion of a certified program in Central Processing.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list . Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

• 1 . Receives soiled, used, and/or contaminated equipment, surgical instruments, scopes, and supplies from Operating Rooms, patient care units, and specialized areas .
• 2. Disassembles items as needed before choosing appropriate cleaning method.
• 3. Identifies items in need of repair upon receipt and ensures information is maintained during cleaning process.
• 4. Selects and utilizes appropriate manual cleaning tools to achieve instrument decontamination, including but not limited to instrument brushes, enzymatic detergent, flushing devices, ultrasonic bath, leak testers, etc.
• 5. Selects and utilizes appropriate automated cleaning tools to achieve instrument decontamination; this includes loading and selecting appropriate cycles on automated washers.
• 6. Documents all work performed utilizing instrument tracking software.
• 7. Inspects and assembles all equipment, instruments, scopes, and instrument sets following product recipe, verifies items are functional, free of debris and required per instrument recipe.
• 8. Documents items missing from instrument set, escalating set to SPD Supervisor or Designee for further guidance.
• 9. Selects appropriate packaging method, including any sterilization accessories (corner protectors etc.) ensures all external indicators and/or labels are securely affixed to item .
• 10. Transports items to sterilization as needed.
• 11. Interprets package labeling to select appropriate sterilization method and approved cycle, options include Steam, Hydrogen Peroxide Plasma, or others as required .
• 12. Inspects packages to ensure all external indicators, filters, and/or labels are securely affixed to items, returns non-satisfactory products to instrument room.
• 13. Loads sterilizer as appropriate to ensure cycle completion; includes biological testing as appropriate . Performs routine sterilizer testing and maintenance including biological monitoring, leak test, bowie dick test, and daily/weekly sterilizer maintenance as appropriate .
• 14. Utilizes patient specific pick lists to accurately gather surgical instruments and disposable supplies requested by attending surgeon or another Peri-Operative representative.
• 15. Documents case cart build process in instrument tracking software, continuously updating the record as items are fulfilled to maintain integrity of needs list.
• 16. Inspect items during the pick process to ensure package integrity remains intact, package is within expiration date, and substitutions are appropriate .
• 17. Communicates unmet surgical supply requests to leadership for resolution assistance .
• 18. Returns supplies not used after surgical procedures to their proper stock location.
• 19. Wears personal protective equipment (PPE) as required and at all times.
• 20. Maintains cleans work area by wiping area with antibacterial agent upon work completion or as needed.
• 21. D ocuments arrival and cleaning process utilizing asset tracking software.
• 22. I nterprets and appropriately documents results of sterilizer testing.
• 23. Escalates positive results as appropriate for intervention.

Physical Requirements

• 1 . Frequently required to lift, reach, carry, push and pull 40-50 lb s or more.
• 2. S tand/sit combination of eight (8) hours or length of assignment.
• 2. Noting attributes of objects such as size, temperature, or texture by touching with fingertips.
• 4. Hearing spoken words to communication oral information to customers accurately, quickly, and loudly enough in the English language.
• 5. Perceiving sounds such as phones ringing, beepers, alarms and buzzers on equipment.
• 6 . Clarity of both near and far vision. Able to distinguish color, i.e. alarms and buzzers on equipment, and color codes on instrumentation.

Skills & Abilities

• 1. E fficient in the operation of all equipment within the department.
• 2. K nowledgeable with general and specialty instrumentation.
• 3. Ability to listen to instruction, and translate it into an activity and reproduce what is taught.
• 4. Ability to be extremely conscientious with regard to procedures.
• 5. Ability to follow guidelines, refraining from short cuts where technique is involved.
• 6. Ab ility to meet deadlines, prioritize tasks and handle changing environment and assignments.
• 7. Ability to speak and hear effectively and meet telephone and customer service standards.
• 8. Computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office and Instrument Tracking systems.
• 9. Knowledge of the hospital, infection control , and medical terminology .

At Tufts Medicine, we want every individual to feel valued for the skills and experience they bring. Our compensation philosophy is designed to offer fair, competitive pay that attracts, retains, and motivates highly talented individuals, while rewarding the important work you do every day.

The base pay ranges reflect the minimum qualifications for the role. Individual offers are determined using a comprehensive approach that considers relevant experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity to ensure compensation is fair, consistent, and aligned with our business goals.

Beyond base pay, Tufts Medicine provides a comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports your health, financial security, and career growth-one of the many ways we invest in you so you can thrive both at work and outside of it.