About This Job
You play a vital role in patient safety by making sure surgical teams have the exact tools they need, exactly when they need them. As a Sterile Processing Department Technician, you manage the critical cycle of cleaning, inspecting, and sterilizing medical equipment. You partner closely with surgery and nursing teams to prevent infections and keep operating rooms running smoothly. Your daily work directly protects patients and supports successful medical procedures.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Executes thorough decontamination of used surgical tools to remove biological debris safely.
- Manages autoclave operation and runs quality control testing to verify proper sterilization cycles.
- Performs instrument assembly and packaging with high precision to meet strict clinical needs.
- Maintains strict infection control protocols by following AAMI standards during every step of processing.
- Oversees inventory management by tracking, stocking, and organizing medical supplies and surgical trays.
- Resolves equipment shortages quickly to ensure uninterrupted surgical schedules.
Required Qualifications
Education
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Completion of an accredited Sterile Processing training program.
Experience
- Minimum of one year of hands-on experience in a healthcare or sterile processing setting.
- Demonstrated expertise in handling delicate surgical equipment and medical devices.
Knowledge/Skills
- Strong knowledge of sterile processing, surgical instrumentation, and AAMI standards.
- Excellent attention to detail for inspecting tools and performing quality control testing.
- Effective communication skills for working with multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Active CRCST Certification from the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management or equivalent.
- Advanced experience in hospital inventory management systems.
Physical Requirements/Work Conditions
- Stands and walks for extended periods during shifts.
- Lifts and carries heavy trays and equipment weighing up to fifty pounds.
- Wears mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) while handling hazardous chemicals and biohazardous materials.
- Works in a fast-paced environment that may include rotating shifts, weekends, and on-call hours.
