Level III - Sterile Processing Technician
Banner Health
Glendale, AZ

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The future is full of possibilities. At Banner Health, we’re excited about what the future holds for health care. That’s why we’re changing the industry to make the experience the best it can be. Our team has come together with the common goal: Make health care easier, so life can be better.  The future of health care starts here. If you’re ready to change lives, we want to hear from you. Apply today.

Do you want to make an impact? Do you want to make a difference? Do you want a rewarding profession? If you have answered yes to these questions, then I ask you to come join our Sterile Processing Department at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center's Level 1 trauma hospital. Being part of the SPD team puts you in an environment that supports patient care and allows you to continue to grow within the Banner family. As a Sterile Processing Tech you will provide services in the decontamination and sterile processing areas. You will collaborate with OR staff to provide sterile instruments and equipment needed for operative procedures. You will be assisting with ongoing inventory of sterile supplies and equipment. In this role, you will perform duties in an independent manner with little or no supervision.

SHIFT DETAILS

Employment Type: Full time

Hours per Week: 40HRS

Shift: 2:30 PM - 11 PM

Schedule: Rotating weekends

On Call: Yes

Weekends: Yes

Holidays: Yes

This position Demonstrates accountability for operating room readiness ensuring sterile surgical instrumentation and disposable supplies are complete and ready for a procedure prior to the preceding patient leaving to the operating room. Responsible for the proper care and handling of all general and specialty instrumentation including the cleaning, decontamination, disassemble/reassembly, quality assurance, instrument identification, set assembly, packaging, sterilization, and distribution of surgical instrumentation for PeriOp Services, hospital departments, and clinics.

POSITION SUMMARY
This position performs as an integral part of the OR team with limited supervision. Demonstrates accountability for operating room readiness ensuring sterile surgical instrumentation and disposable supplies are complete and ready for a procedure prior to the preceding patient leaving the operating room. Responsible for the proper care and handling of all general and specialty instrumentation including the cleaning, decontamination, disassemble/reassembly, quality assurance, instrument identification, set assembly, packaging, sterilization, and distribution of surgical instrumentation for PeriOp Services, hospital departments, and clinics. This position requires well manner communications and the ability to communicate effectively through reading, writing, and speaking in person.

CORE FUNCTIONS
1. Provides decontamination and sterile processing support to PeriOp Services, ED, ICU, hospital wide departments, and clinics both on and off campus, and ambulatory surgery centers. Provides various levels of service for the management of sterile surgical instrumentation and disposable patient care supplies. Support may-or-may-not include, decontamination of surgical instruments, assembly/sterilization, sterile instrument storage, partial or complete case cart support, OR core tech support and high-level disinfection.

2. Responsible for the decontamination, assembly, and packaging of surgical instruments following established protocols, instructions for use (IFU) as well as performs required quality assurance, repairs, reassembly, documentation, sterility handling, and storage of specialized surgical instruments. Maintains required sterilization logs and quality assurance records relating to all equipment associated for the purpose of decontamination, HLD disinfection, and sterilization.

3. Ability to identify interpret the surgical schedule and medical terminology as it pertains to procedures requiring sterile surgical instrumentation and disposable supplies. Able to address and communicate special needs to minimize delays to surgery. Responds to emergent calls from the Operating Room and performs preliminary investigations. Determines priority level of instrumentation requests and other hospital needs. Directs services in a competent and professional manner while assuring OR priorities are completed in a timely manner.

4. Able to differentiate surgical instrumentation that is surgery owned, consignment/loaner, hospital depart, surgeon, ambulatory surgery center, and clinics both on and off campus. Completes necessary tracking of surgical instruments with a paper log sheet or computer process for instrumentation leaving the area. Reports needed replacement of surgical instruments to maintain the inventory and support readiness of sets.

5. Utilizes specialized equipment for the decontamination, high-level disinfection, and sterilization of surgical instrumentation according to the device and equipment manufacturer’s recommendations and hospital policy. Operates steam and hydrogen peroxide sterilizers of various sizes. Operates automated surgical instrument washers, ultrasonics, flush pumps, visualization devices, and cart washers to include high-level disinfectors where supported.

6. Operates various quality assurance testing equipment associated to flexible endoscopic scopes, transesophageal ultrasound probes, and electro-surgical insulation defect detector for laparoscopic and energy provided surgical instrumentation. Utilizes heat detection devices to allow steam sterilized surgical instrumentation to be released for use without risking burns to staff and patients. Operates demagnetizers of stainless-steel instruments for ophthalmic and delicate cardiac surgical instrumentation for safe use on patients. Utilizes various borescope devices to inspect inner channels of lumened surgical instrumentation and flexible scopes.

7. Maintains a clean and safe environment by adhering to Standard Precautions and Infection Control practices. Staff follow protocols for proper donning of personnel protective equipment (PPE) while completing the decontamination process referencing IFU’s supplied by the manufacturers.

8. Maintain flexibility to rotate shifts and adjust hours as needed, maintain a work record of regular attendance, timely arrivals, and departures, maintain professional appearance appropriate to position and function.

Performs all functions according to established policies, procedures, regulatory and accreditation requirements, as well as applicable professional standards. Provides all customers of Banner Health with an excellent service experience by consistently demonstrating our core and leader behaviors every day.

NOTE: The core functions are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Specific tasks or responsibilities will be documented as outlined by the incumbent's immediate manager.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
DIRECTLY REPORTING
None
MATRIX OR INDIRECT REPORTING
None
TYPE OF SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
N/A

Banner Health Leadership will strive to uphold the mission, values, and purpose of the organization. They will serve as role models for staff and act in a people-centered, service excellence-focused, and results-oriented manner.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ENVIRONMENT FACTORS
IP - Typical Indirect Patient Care Environment: (CSPD Instrument Technician, Lab Technician, Pharmacist)
Able to stand, walk, bend, squat, reach, and stretch frequently.
May be required to lift up to 75 pounds.
Must use standard precautions due to threat of exposure to blood and body fluids.
Needs ability to communicate effectively through reading, writing, and speaking in person or on telephone.
May require periodic to frequent use of personal computer.
Off-site travel may be required.

ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ENVIRONMENT FACTORS

Requires ability to tolerate exposure to conditions which may include toxic chemicals, high frequency noise levels, bio-hazardous materials, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, heights, high temperatures or confined spaces.

Able to use proper body mechanics to lift supplies and equipment and push carts and dollies weighing up to 500 lbs.

Needs adequate color vision.

Must wear protective clothing as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High school diploma/GED or equivalent working knowledge.

Minimum one (1) year experience as a Sterile Processing Technician

Requires national certification as an SPD Technician (CSPDT) or Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) and relevant experience with sterilizing instruments which qualifies the candidate for the national certification exam or certified registration.

Must have mechanical aptitude with the ability to break down moving parts, clean, lubricate and reassemble, problem solve incomplete trays and missing instrumentation and have effective organizational, communication and human relation skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Instrument management tracking system experience.

Additional related education