Sterile Processing Technician Lead

Responsible for the decontamination, cleaning, processing, and sterilization of trays, instruments, supplies, and equipment following all infection control practices.  Responsible for dispensing equipment upon request.  Maintains accurate records and departmental inventory usage.  Responsible for case cart building and responds to requests from surgery. Helps with managing workflow, completing QA’s on the sterilizer loads, and assisting the supervisor in co-worker assignments in order for the work to continually flow through the dept.

PERFORMS DECONTAMINATION FUNCTIONS:

• Disassembles, cleans, and disinfects instruments and equipment used for patient care utilizing correct manual and mechanical processes.

• Operates equipment used in the decontamination process, i.e. sonic washer, cart washers, washer sterilizers and decontaminators.

• Transports case carts from soiled holding area in surgery to decontamination room.

• Unloads case cart containing soiled instruments and places in designated area.  Places case carts in cart washer.

• Performs cleaning tasks in work area as assigned.

• Uses universal precautions when working in decontamination area (i.e., gloves, face shields, protective gown).

• Utilizes SPM computer system to track instruments and case carts.

• Makes rounds throughout the facility to retrieve reusable instruments and equipment and transports back to the Sterile Processing Department.

• Helps with managing workflow and departmental resources.

• Performs and monitors Quality Assurance monitoring to meet AAMI, AORN CDC, and OSHA performance standards. 

• Trains staff to new processes and documents the competency of each.

 

ASSEMBLES INSTRUMENT TRAYS AND PACKS:

• Unloads instruments from washer sterilizers and distributes to appropriate workstations.

• Assembles instrument trays and packs utilizing written instructions and proper protocol.

• Checks for sharpness and proper functioning of instruments.

• Recognizes and memorizes a large variety of instruments.

• Applies sterilization wrappers properly to maintain the integrity of the contents.

• Utilizes heat sealer on packs as needed.

• Each item is identified correctly on the outside packaging of each item.

• Loads sterilizer carriage and transports trays to sterilization area.

• Helps with managing workflow and departmental resources

• Assigns preceptors and monitors the progress of new staff working closely with the department Educator.

 

OPERATES STERILIZERS, DOCUMENTS LOADS, AND RETURNS STOCK TO APPROPRIATE AREA:

• Checks trays, packs, and basins on sterilizer carriage making certain that correct procedures have been utilized.

• Able to operate each type of sterilizer.  Selects correct cycle and time period required for specified load.

• Knowledgeable of all methods of sterilization (i.e., Sterrad, Steam)

• Accurately documents all sterilization information.   This can be completed manually or through the use of a computer.

• Biological monitoring is completed per departmental policy.

• Sterile instruments and supplies are handled properly and restocked in sterile storage area.  All items are rotated as required.

• All equipment is continuously monitored to ensure it is functioning properly.

• Performs QA checks on sterilizers, documenting results and assuring compliance.

• Helps with managing workflow and departmental resources.

 

BUILDS SURGICAL CASE CARTS :

• Surgical preference lists are obtained from computer to build case cart.

• Location of instruments and supplies are labeled to increase efficiency.

• Performs quality control final check before items leave the department.

• Completed case carts are distributed to specified area.

• Procedural carts used in all patient care areas are restocked, stored, or returned to appropriate area.

• Performs Quality Assurance monitoring of Case Cart builds to assure carts are complete and accurate.

 

Staffing Utilization:

• Utilizes staffing and resources in a timely, effective, and efficient manner as