Sterile Processing Technician

Position Overview

Bonus Eligible:
Up to $2,500

UHS is seeking a Sterile Processing Technician to support our surgical and clinical teams by ensuring all instruments and equipment are properly cleaned, sterilized, and ready for use. In this critical behind-the-scenes role, you will play a key part in patient safety and infection prevention across a variety of departments.

At UHS, every connection matters—including the ones you make through the care and precision you bring to your work. Your attention to detail and commitment to quality help create a safe environment for both patients and providers. If you take pride in your work and understand the importance of every instrument and every procedure, we welcome you to join our team.

UHS Wilson Medical Center, Johnson City, NY

UHS Binghamton General Hospital, Binghamton, NY

Rotational

$17.98 – $25.17 per hour, depending on experience

You will be eligible for benefits if you are hired into a regular position with at least 24 scheduled weekly hours.

• Perform equipment quality tests including but not limited to cleaning washer screen, spray arms, and daily washer protein test; sterilizer daily maintenance checks and testing.
• Utilize mechanical washers, ultrasonic washers, high and low temperature sterilizers, Eto Sterilizers, instrument dryers, and other SPD related equipment.
• Retrieve and receive used instruments and patient equipment from the operating room, clinical departments, ancillary areas and clinics in an aseptic manner that prevents cross contamination in the hospital and to reduce the risk of injury (exposure) to workers, (OSHA standard). Demonstrate independent function in decontamination procedure in accordance with standard precautions.
• Document reusable medical devices when received in decontamination via instrument tracking system. Demonstrate instrument or set washed and disinfected prior to assembly and sterilization.
• Utilize industry-leading practices effectively manual cleaning using department specific enzymatic detergents, brushes, and methods. Don appropriate PPE when in decontamination. After, load and utilize mechanical ultrasonic baths and washer disinfectors to render reusable instruments safe for handling and assembly.
• Perform quality inspections on each instrument and instrument category. (I.e. Scissor sharpness test, Boroscope for cannulated instruments, residue protein checks for cleanliness, visual inspections for pitting or corrosion, rongeur punch test etc.)
• Ensure procedural instrumentation, power equipment, surgical implants and patient medical devices are assembled following the manufacture IFU and appointed count sheet/recipe.
• Perform quality inspections after wrapping or containerizing sets prior to sterilization.
• Ensure sterility is achieved by choosing the correct method of sterilization, the correct cycle, monitoring the sterilizer function, chemically and biologically testing sterilization equipment, and interpreting/documenting mechanical and testing results.
• Ensure sterility and aeration is achieved and safe practices are performed in utilizing the Ethylene Oxide Sterilization process. Perform, observe and assess safe work practices, regulatory compliance and emergency procedures related to the handling of Ethylene Oxide gas. Must maintain certification (annual testing) in the safe operation of ETO sterilizers and wear personnel environment badges per policy and OSHA standard.
• Perform visual inspections to check for appropriate chemical indicator color change for each set or peel packed item. Then distribute sterile instruments to respective units in an aseptic manor.
• Manually clean, disinfect, store, distribute and track reusable durable medical equipment. (I.e. IV brains, modules, PCAs, SCDs, feeding pumps, hypo-hyperthermia machines etc.)
• Maintain inventory and appropriate storage of sterile items and equipment in anticipation of distribution to various departments on request. Respond to routine and STAT requests.
• Distribute and re-stock crash carts (adult and pediatric) and trauma carts.
• Required to learn various instrument…