Sterile Processing Technician Lead

Under indirect supervision, assists in distribution of sterile and contaminated supplies to nursing inpatient and clinic departments; inventories and stocks supply carts; fills requisitions as required; washes, decontaminates, checks, assembles, wraps, sterilizes, stores, and issues trays, instruments, supplies and equipment. In addition, ensures all assignments are performed in accordance to department standards; provides orientation/training and coordinates work of Sterile Processing Technician II and I.

• Segregates all used instruments, equipment apparatus, and other articles returned to CSD according to decontamination method; loads appropriate items in washer; washes other items in sonic cleaner or manually, using approved detergent; wipes dry; washes appropriate items in cart-washer; changes graph paper of processing equipment.
• Assembles instruments; sets-up variety of general and special trays; wraps and seals items in wrappers according to established procedures in preparation for sterilization. In addition, inspects surgical instrumentation for proper function.
• Runs sterilizer test packs according to policy; incubates and interprets biological indicator; notifies supervisor immediately of any abnormal results.
• Performs sterilization procedures in accordance with sterilization standards and departmental policies and procedures; practices universal precautions and infection control procedures; ensures safe sterilization; detects any malfunction of equipment; checks equipment indicators before, during and after each load to ensure proper equipment settings; applies load identification label to each package after sterilization process complete; shelves appropriately.
• Demonstrates working knowledge of surgical equipment and supplies, including special care and sterilization procedures.; assumes responsibility for appropriate care, processing, and sterilization of specialty instruments for varied surgical services, (e.g. bronchoscopes, laser, midas rex, laparoscope); assists O.R. staff by sterilizing specialty equipment and/or obtaining additional or extra supplies required for procedures; assists with room preparation and/or clean-up activities to assure timely turnover of surgical suites and increase utilization of resources.
  
  Checks sterilization control procedures performed by subordinates for completeness; corrects errors as needed; ensures all assignments are performed in accordance to department standards; performs biological testing to monitor and assure sterilization process is complete, trains and assists staff with sterilization equipment usage; monitors other staff members who may assist in decontamination and sterilization process; coordinates room preparation and/or clean-up activities to assure timely turnover of surgical suites and increase utilization of resources.
• Adheres to all aspects of sterility control, universal precautions and infection control practices; participates in departmental meetings, inservice programs and quality assurance activities to keep abreast of current trends; researches methods and processes to maximize effectiveness and reduce wastage of resources; recognizes own learning needs and seeks knowledge to increase skills and abilities. In addition, monitors and promotes adherence to sterility control, universal precautions and infection control practices by others;
  
  provides in services on sterility as appropriate; recommends methods and processes to maximize effectiveness and reduce wastage of resources; participates on inter-departmental task force or councils to monitor, review and evaluate quality control activities; reviews processes to identify problems and seek process improvement/resolution; makes recommendations to committee and/or appropriate person to improve process.
• Receives and prepares items requiring gas sterilization; ensures proper packaging; arranges for transport and return of items to outside facility; ensures all return items have been sterilized; verifies all items sent out are returned; ensures provision of manufacturer documentation for gas sterilization by requesting department.
• Reviews and maintains sterilizer load indicators; files reports; completes log; recalls positive biological products from user departments.
• Inspects color of tapes on newly autoclaved items and on stored sterile packs on all supply shelves; sends outdated supplies for reprocessing or replacement; restocks shelf items as needed.
• Cleans and performs…