Central Services Tech I

Job description

Job Requirements
Job Summary
Under close to general supervision, decontaminates, disinfects, assembles, packages, sterilizes, stores and issues medical/surgical instruments, supplies and equipment in accordance with policy and industry best practices and standards. Fulfillment of the job duties requires the employee to have access to medication storage areas.
Primary Responsibilities
The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job responsibilities performed.
Prep and Pack/Assembly
• Inspects, cleans, tests, assembles, and prepares surgical instruments and instrument sets for terminal sterilization in accordance with established sterile processing practices, departmental procedures, and applicable standards.
• Inspects instruments for cleanliness and functionality using appropriate tools and testing methods, including lighted magnification and sharpness testing materials.
• Assembles instrument trays and sets according to established procedures and prepares them for sterilization by selecting appropriate packaging types and methods compatible with the devices; accurately labels packaged devices.

Sterilization (Performs under close supervision if not certified)
• Performs high- and low-temperature sterilization processes in accordance with established procedures, departmental requirements, and manufacturer’s instructions for use; operates sterilizers and related equipment safely and recognizes and reports equipment malfunctions.
• Loads sterilizers to facilitate proper sterilant contact and verifies load contents against load records to ensure accurate documentation prior to processing.
• Monitors sterilization cycles using mechanical, chemical, and biological indicators; verifies cycle parameters, processes and documents monitoring results, and maintains accurate electronic records of load contents, dates, sterilizer lot numbers, and test results, using manual documentation when SPM is unavailable.
• Promptly initiates the appropriate recall process for sterilization failures, including wet loads, aborted cycles, incorrect parameters, positive biological indicators, or unresponsive chemical indicators.
• Complies with safety requirements and uses appropriate personal protective equipment when handling chemical sterilants, hot instruments, and sterilization equipment.

Sterile Storage/Case Carts
• Accurately pulls, assembles, and delivers case carts for scheduled, wait-list, add-on, and emergent surgical cases, including required instrumentation, sets, peel-packaged items, loaner sets, and disposable supplies.
• Dispenses and delivers instruments, equipment, and supplies to nursing departments, clinics, and other patient care areas; maintains accurate records of items issued and initiates returns to maintain inventory accuracy.
• Conducts periodic inventory of supplies and instruments, restocks items as needed, and promptly reports supply or instrumentation shortages to Central Sterile leadership.
• Monitors sterile storage areas for conditions that may compromise item integrity, including expired items, damaged packaging, missing or damaged tamper-evident locks, and compromised indicator tape.
• Scans trays and peel-packaged items to their designated shelf locations to maintain accurate inventory and storage records.

Decontamination/Retrieval of Soiled Instruments from Patient Care Units
• Performs decontamination of surgical instruments and other medical devices to render them clean and safe for handling, using appropriate cleaning tools, detergents, chemical dilutions, and mechanical decontamination equipment in accordance with departmental procedures and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Retrieves, identifies, contains, transports, and safely handles contaminated instruments from patient care areas using appropriate techniques to prevent spills, cross-contamination, and sharps injuries; maintains required one-way workflow and adheres to dress and PPE requirements for decontamination activities.
• Performs routine cleaning and disinfection of the decontamination area and equipment to maintain a safe and sanitary work environment.

HLD and Flexible/Rigid Endoscope Processes
• Performs decontamination, cleaning, inspection, high-level disinfection (HLD), and, when compatible, sterilization of flexible and rigid endoscopes, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probes, dilators, and related accessories in accordance with established procedures, manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU), and applicable standards.
• Retrieves, contains, transports, and safely handles contaminated scopes and equipment from patient care areas to prevent spills, cross-contamination, and recontamination; adheres to required PPE, one-way workflow, and three-sink processing practices.
• Performs pre- and post-cleaning leak testing, visual inspection using lighted magnification, and residual soil verification testing; accurately documents results and takes appropriate action or notifies Central Sterile leadership when testing fails.
• Selects and uses appropriate detergents, cleaning brushes, flushing equipment, and other accessories; thoroughly cleans all ports and channels while preventing aerosolization, and properly reprocesses reusable cleaning tools or discards single-use items after use.
• Operates, cleans, maintains, and documents the use of cleaning, flushing, and automated endoscope reprocessing (AER) equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s IFU and departmental procedures.
• Performs HLD using AERs, including proper scope connections, monitoring of mechanical and chemical indicators, and documentation of required processing information such as date, physician, patient identifier, load/cycle number, and processing technician.
• Thoroughly dries and stores disinfected scopes, dilators, and accessories in designated storage systems to prevent recontamination; maintains scope accessories with the corresponding scope throughout processing and storage.
• Prepares and packages flexible and rigid endoscopes and accessories for sterilization when compatible with the applicable sterilization method.
• Maintains clean and sanitary processing and storage areas by disinfecting sinks after each scope or dilator, cleaning storage shelves, and maintaining adequate supplies and equipment.
• Cleans and restocks endoscopy procedure carts and issues scopes in appropriate hard transport containers in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Assists clinical staff with point-of-use handling issues and equipment malfunctions and promptly reports concerns requiring additional action.

Patient Safety
• Ensures patient safety in performance of all job duties. Takes action to correct observed risks, reports adverse events and near misses.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Work Experience
High School Diploma or equivalent (GED) is required. Basic knowledge of the use of a PC and computerized database system.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills are necessary to work with various clinical personnel, resolve problems and to properly identify and label supplies for inventory purposes.
• Knowledge of surgical procedures, instrumentation, supplies, and products to ensure accurate case cart preparation and distribution.