Central Sterile Tech

Position Summary:The central sterile technician independently performs routine processing of medical instrument sterilization; troubleshooting of equipment; equipment maintenance, checks and repairs; monitoring of chemicals; and distribution of instrument trays.

Responsibilities:

• Ensures personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn.
• Receives and separates instruments according to process required (manual or automated washers).
• Washes, rinses and decontaminates patient care equipment and heat sensitive instruments.
• Loads baskets with instruments and starts decontamination process.
• Chooses proper sterilization method (low temperature sterilization method – heat sensitive and steam sterilization).
• Assembles, strings and inventories instrument tray according to protocol; wraps items according to protocol using wrap or peel pouch.
• Documents and labels items sterilized.
• Applies required biological spore test pack.
• Loads and starts sterilization cycle; and reports missing, broken or faulty instruments to management.
• Removes test pack from sterilized load.
• Logs date, time, load number, sterilizer number, and implantable items included.
• Places spore in incubator and starts time period for release of items.
• Reads and documents incubator results.
• Releases items for use if spore test is negative.
• Follows recall policy and procedures if a positive biological spore is detected.
• Distributes processed items to appropriate user departments and receives outdated items for reprocessing.
• Replenishes and documents items pulled from backup inventory stock for trauma tray.
• Reports pulled and needed inventory to supervisor.
• Completes the following steps to trouble shoot equipment breakdowns: monitors temperature gauges to ensure proper performance; monitors temperatures to ensure chemicals are performing as designed; contacts maintenance if repairs are needed; and works closely with the machines in order to recognize potential problems and to learn to repair small problems.
• Completes the following steps for equipment maintenance, checks and repairs by: checking equipment for normal operations, observes meters and gauges, and makes adjustments necessary for normal and efficient operation; starts and stops equipment to ensure all safety equipment is working; monitors temperature gauges to ensure proper performance; monitors temperatures to ensure chemicals are performing as designed; contacts maintenance/vendor service representatives if repairs are needed;
  
  works closely with the machines in order to recognize potential problems and learns to repair small problems; and fills out work requests when needed.
• Monitors chemicals for adequate inventory supply.
• Chemical rotation and disposal.
• Logs and dates new inventory.
• Checks for pump efficiency and possible leaks and spills.
• Notifies vendor service representative of preventative maintenance on pumps and tubing damage.
• Checks for proper chemical dispensing to ensure a safe environment

Qualifications:

Required:

• Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Certification (Required within2 years of hire).