Job Description

Sterile Processing Technician - Certified

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Variable Shifts

Methodist Overview:

Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, part of Covenant Health, is a trusted regional hospital serving East Tennessee with advanced care and a personal touch. With more than 30 specialties, including cardiology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and vascular care, the facility offers innovative treatments for complex conditions like aneurysms, joint damage, heart failure, and chronic wounds. Backed by a team of over 1,000 healthcare professionals and 250 physicians, Methodist Medical Center combines state-of-the-art technology with compassionate care, earning national recognition for patient safety and excellence in stroke and heart care. Our facilities offer patients all the benefits of medical expertise and innovation while still embodying the convenience of a hometown medical center that is close to the support of family and friends.

Job Objectives

Store, process and issue supplies and instruments for use in the operating room and clinical hospital departments. Assist with the supply replenishment for the materials management operations within the surgery department.

Responsibilities

• Cleans, decontaminates, assembles, and sterilizes instruments utilizing established antiseptic techniques.
• Operates and maintains washer decontamination unit and ultrasonic cleaner.
• Operates and maintains all sterilizers used within the sterile processing department and OR; maintains appropriate records in compliance with the Joint Commission standards, and assists with preparations for the Joint Commission inspections.
• Maintains routine biological readings on Steris for quality control.
• Provides sterile linen and instrumentation for all clinical departments.
• Assembles the supplies and instruments necessary for surgical cases.
• Responsible for putting away supplies and instruments and ensuring proper rotation of such.
• Assists with the supply replenishment process for the OR.
• Maintains and operates etcher for proper identification of instruments.
• Utilizes department computer programs to complete data entry and access reports for supply and instrument management functions.
• Communicates and renders assistance to nursing staff within the limits that their training and skills permit.
• Collects data for quality measurements.
• NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Other duties as assigned.
• HEALTH/SAFETY/COMPETENCE: Cannot pose a direct threat to health or safety of self or others. Must provide safe, efficient, competent care to customer or patient population assigned. Must demonstrate competency of the unit specific functions described in the performance continuum, skill lists and/or standards.

Qualifications

Education/Knowledge/Skills:

Must have successfully met the eligibility requirements to take the certification exam given by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD). Must have knowledge of decontamination, assembly, sterilization, hospital policies and procedures, infection control, fire and safety requirements

Experience:

Previous experience in job specialty is required.

Licensure/Certifications

Must have taken and passed an accepted Central Processing exam through either IAHCSMM (International Association for Healthcare Material Management) as a Certified Registered Sterile Processing Technician (CRCST) or through CBSPD (Certification Board for Sterile Processing Technicians) as a Certified Sterile Processing Distribution Technician (CSPDT). Must maintain certification at all times while employed in this position.