Sterile Instrument Technician Lead

Position Purpose

This position is responsible to oversee the provision of sterile trays, medical instruments, packs and supplies for the care of the surgical patient on a 24 hour, 7 days a week basis.

The Sterile Instrument Technician Lead will oversee the daily activities in the above procedures. Is responsible to providing effective communication to sterile instrument teams to ensure daily needs list is prioritized and met. Will perform quality assurance activity, monitoring and documentation. Assists with mentoring, training and role modeling for new Sterile Instrument Technicians. Performs all duties with a commitment to excellence in quality and customer service.

Collaborates with department leadership, Operating Room Liaison's and educator to identify department best practice updates. Assists in department key performance indicators.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Nature and Scope

This position serves a patient population of all ages. This position provides sterilization expertise to Sterile Processing, which has interaction with the OR, all in-house patient stations, outpatient services and several off-site services.

The incumbent is responsible for monitoring instruments and supplies needed in reprocessing procedures, overseeing the decontamination of equipment used for patient comfort and treatment, maintaining accurate quality assurance retrieval programs, and must have working knowledge of proper cleaning, containerizing/wrapping, and sterilization of all reusable items. Responsibilities also include participation in interviewing, training employees, planning, assigning and directing workflow, providing feedback to leadership in regard to sterile instrument technician performance evaluations, escalating to leadership regarding employees' performance complaints, and resolution of issues.

The conditions of work may involve exposures to communicable disease and potentially dangerous gases (where appropriate), chemicals, and injury from sharp instruments. Demonstrates knowledge of infection control measures to avoid spread of bacteria as demonstrated by appropriate handling of items that may have been exposed to blood or body fluids according to standards and recommended practices dictated by governing bodies, such as OSHA, AAMI, AORN as well as the department’s policy and procedures.

This position has the authority to relocate equipment to increase work efficiency, update packs and trays with management approval.

The major challenges to this position are maintaining control of patient equipment, proper level of supplies, and helping keep staff motivated and productive in the preparation of sterile instruments and trays utilizing the instrument tracking system (where appropriate) for invasive procedures and training technicians. Other related duties and flexibility may be required.

Demonstrates the positive behaviors that reflect understanding and support of the organizations mission, vision and purpose.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: