Lead, Healthcare, Healthcare Administration

Sr Sterile Processing Technician

At Houston Methodist, the Sr Sterile Processing Technician position is responsible for maintaining high standards for decontamination, assembly, inspection, wrapping, and sterilization of surgical instruments and medical equipment for Surgical Services and all ancillary departments, which includes working in conjunction with the Operating Room (OR) staff to provide timely sterile products, trays, and case carts where applicable. This position maintains consistent and continuous workflow between the OR and Sterile Processing while practicing excellent customer service.

The Sr Sterile Processing Technician position must be certified, and therefore should demonstrate advanced knowledge of sterilization techniques, surgical instruments, and an in-depth understanding of the Sterile Processing department's relationship with other departments within the hospital.

Qualifications:

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)
• Two years of sterile processing experience
• Sterile Processing certification: CRCST or CSPDT

Knowledge and abilities:

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Independently demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Follows Universal Precautions by wearing the appropriate protective attire while working in the Decontamination area
• Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers
• Ability to utilize basic computer programs such as Microsoft Office and electronic instrument tracking system, if applicable
• Demonstrates problem-solving and critical thinking, and makes decisions using analytical approach
• Demonstrates proper phone etiquette when responding to inquiries made to the department

Essential functions:

• Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic, team-focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with staff from the interprofessional health care team concerning patient safety to improve outcomes and the safe transition of care through effective assignment and shift handoffs and uses a structured format for regular communication with staff members and physicians.
• Serves as a preceptor and implements staff education specific to service lines and unit processes; coaches and mentors other staff and students. Role models, by example, open, professional communication to promote both work efforts and problem resolution and achieve mutual understanding. Works well with others to make contributions to the work effort as a whole and facilitates problem resolution.
• Initiates recommendations for improvement of department scores for employee engagement.
• Using advanced skills and job-based competencies, performs decontamination and assembling of complex surgical trays, individual and potentially customized instrumentation and equipment utilizing established count sheets. Wraps or contains items appropriately according to size and type of instrument or equipment.
• Functions independently to sterilize instruments and surgical trays by following prescribed manufacturer instructions for use and according to institutional policies and procedures.
• Identifies and prioritizes timely sterile products, trays and case carts by interpreting the surgery schedule and based on the…