Central Sterile Lead

Description

 As a working team lead this role supervises sterile processing personnel during specified shifts, facilitating staff and departmental efficiencies while monitoring the daily operations of the department to ensure that appropriate quality and productivity levels are achieved. Ensures compliance with infection control policies and AAMI, AORN, and AAAHC standards. Acts as a liaison between the OR, facilitating all instrumentation being ready on time, supporting all customers of the department. Assures compliance with infection control and sterilization standards, ensuring that sterilization practices and all equipment used for decontamination and sterilization meet quality standards. Assists staff with performance improvement. Supervisory responsibilities include staff selection, orientation/onboarding, performance evaluation, counseling, staff development, and processes payroll according to policy in a timely fashion.

Requirements

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Yes

Duties and Responsibilities:

· Schedules and supervises the work of assigned staff to ensure smooth workflow in the department. Schedules staff in accordance with department needs. Acts as a knowledge resource to staff in matters of department processes, technical skills, equipment, supplies and/or regulatory requirements

· Selects, trains and manages the performance of staff. Provides daily direction to staff. Sets goals for individuals and for the team. Acts as a mentor and coach and provides development and growth opportunities for staff.

· Coordinate and maintain departmental workflow in decontamination, the inspection of instruments/trays, cleaning, assembling and packaging of surgical instruments, medical/surgical materials and equipment.

· Monitors inventory of supplies. Coordinate procurement and stocking activities. Analyze usage patterns of supplies and recommend optimal par levels. Assists in developing goals, targets and action plans.

· Facilitates timely processing of loaner instrumentation and supplies. Identifies opportunities for cost reduction and expense control. Provides management with information for forecasting future instrumentation/equipment needs. Track and document lost or damaged equipment and supplies. 

· Is responsible for documenting and staging instrumentation for repair, as well as communication as needed for replacements.

· Identifies opportunities to improve work processes and enable achievement of goals in quality, productivity and customer satisfaction. Provides a forum for staff involvement in problem identification and resolutions. Develops and implements solutions to address opportunities to improve quality, safety, efficiency and productivity. 

· Provides for ongoing communications with staff and ancillary departments. Participates in surgery center teams, as assigned, in order to share information, solve problems, and evaluate the impact of services to receiving departments.

· Provides technical information, support and education to staff, physicians and ancillary staff

· Completes documentation as required

· Identifies and communicates service needs to appropriate personnel

· Assists with the organization/stocking of supplies/instruments required for surgical procedures

· Tier 1 troubleshooting support of electrical/mechanical emergencies in Central Sterile

· Adheres to standards/principles of CS/OSHA, AORN, AAMI, as well as facility policy and procedure

· Practices principles/techniques of Universal Precautions, infection control and safety, and fire/emergency

· Participates in Quality Improvement activities and ensures all quality control measures are recorded according to IFU and regulation.

· Implements current, cost-effective methods/technologies to improve efficiency and productivity

· Maintains inventory of sterilized items within surgical services and nursing units

· Recommends in-service programs

· Reviews and has working knowledge of manuals and web-based systems on how to operate and care for all equipment and instrumentation

· Participates in the operation and monitoring of daily testing functions and recording of auto clave sterilizing equipment

· Protects confidentiality; provides information on a need-to-know basis

· Assists team members as need arises

· Maintains working knowledge of facility computer software programs

Required Skills and Responsibilities:

· High school diploma or equivalent is required.

· Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) by IAHCSMM or Central Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) by CBSPD required at hire.

· A minimum of one year of supervisory experience preferred, preferably in Sterile Processing.

· A minimum of five years of experience in the Sterile reprocessing environment is preferred. A thorough knowledge and experience with the following is required: asepsis; surgical techniques, instruments, disinfection, decontamination and all related functions within the SPD to include current AAMI standards is required.

· Functional knowledge of sterilization regulatory guidelines is required.

· Current knowledge and experience with instrument tracking programs required.

· Strong communications, critical thinking and team building skills are required.

Education and Experience:

High School Diploma. 

Current certification as a Sterile Processing Technician through an accredited organization (CRCST- Certified Registered Central Service Tech, IAHCSMM, or Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician CBSPD) 

Knowledge of AAMI standards/guidelines

Knowledge of CSR/OSHA regulations and application to the OR setting

Salary Range $25-35/hour

ADA Job Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Physical Demands: Intermittent lifting if equipment and instructions up to 50lbs. Walking, standing, lifting, reaching with hands and arms, carrying, stooping, kneeling, crawling, bending, squatting, handling, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, prolonged sitting, vision, eye-hand coordination, tasting or smelling. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance, vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.

· Communication Skills: Writing, speaking, hearing, reading, interpersonal relationships, receiving instructions, giving instructions.

· Intellectual Skills: Short- and long-term memory, abstract reasoning, decision making, directing others, mathematical calculations.

· Work Situations: Work Situations: Working as part of a group, working with the public, performing a variety of duties, use of technology.

Disclaimer:

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, but not all-inclusive, listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required. See ADA checklist for specific related criteria.