Manager of Central Sterile

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Surgical Services, the Central Sterile Manager oversees the entire process of cleaning, decontaminating, assembling, packaging, and sterilizing surgical instruments and equipment, ensuring compliance with strict health and safety regulations while managing staff, workflow, inventory, and interdepartmental communication with OR teams to guarantee instrument availability for surgeries.

• Education:
  
  High school diploma or GED required. Associate’s Degree preferred.
• Experience:
  
  Minimum 5 years Central Sterile Processing.
• Special
  
  Skills:
  
  AHCSMM certifications as CRCST, CIS and CHL or equivalents required.

• Demonstrates knowledge and proficiency in all functions and tasks of the Central Sterile Processing Department.
• Demonstrates knowledge of processes by actively performing daily departmental functions when necessary.
• Ensures compliance with work instructions, regulatory requirements, national standards and established Sterile Processing policies and procedures across all functions.
• Ensures processing equipment is accurately maintained and in good working order.
• Continually reassesses production capacity and adjusts as needed.
• Keep abreast of all pertinent federal, state and NSMC regulations, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.
• Oversees and assures daily quality assurance monitoring systems (i.e., biological test reading).
• Maintains proper documentation in accordance with the regulatory agencies and departmental protocols.
• Monitors quality of products produced; recommends and initiates workflow changes to achieve optimal results.
• Responsibility for maintaining daily departmental workflows including decontamination, prep and pack, sterilization, endoscopy processing, inventory management and case pick functions.
• Ensures daily instrument needs are prioritized and processed to meet surgical demand; alerts Peri-Op leadership if delays are expected.
• Monitors the accurate and timely assembly and distribution of surgical case carts.
• Implements inventory control practices to facilitate stock rotation and removal of expired/damaged items from inventory.
• Participates in consolidation and standardization of supplies and equipment for the department.
• Provides direct supervision and support to all employees within the department.
• Ensure that staff are trained and evaluated on compliance policies and procedures specific to their jobs.
• Develop training and staff development programs as needed.
• Develop department in-service as appropriate.
• Articulate a clear vision for areas of direct responsibility.
• Oversee and direct the daily technical activities of all departmental employees supporting reprocessing of medical and surgical equipment.
• Effectively prioritize workload; appropriately delegate work when appropriate.
• Responsible for creating and maintaining staff scheduling, and daily staffing assignments.
• Examine and assess staff performance related to quality and quantity of items produced.
• Document disciplinary issues, initiate resolutions and/or issue corrective action.
• Ensure patient safety through active management of infection control processes, sterility assurance, and equipment/instrumentation availability.
• Initiate service call for all vendors as needed.
• Collaborate with the Peri-Operative team to ensure products are available for use.
• Develop communication plan for all relevant information regarding supplies and instrumentation to key stakeholders.
• Complete projects and initiatives as assigned.
• Effectively manage change and provide active support during times of change.
• Detect and resolve team/individual isolation and breakdowns resulting from change.
• Communicate excessively to quell rumors and work through barriers to change.
• Remain flexible and responsive to new information during change.
• Analyze service and quality metrics to identify areas where corrective action can be taken within the department.
• Question the status quo to seek more efficient ways to accomplish department functions.
• Seek out industry benchmarks and stay aware of emerging technology and best practices to exceed quality standards.
• Actively seek opportunities to…