Lead Central Sterile Technician - Days - Loh

NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital at NYU Langone Health is one of the nation's leading orthopedic and rheumatologic, specialty hospitals dedicated to the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. The hospital provides some of the most advanced orthopedic programs in the region for musculoskeletal disorders and the largest pediatric orthopedic program in New York City. The hospital is consistently ranked among the leading orthopedic centers nationwide by U.S. News and World Report. Our expert physicians combine extensive experience and research with the latest technology for bone and joint problems that affect patient's ability to function. We specialize in the following areas: Orthopedic Surgery, Rheumatology, Neurology, and Radiology. At NYU Langone Health, equity, diversity, and inclusion are fundamental values. We strive to be a place where our exceptionally talented faculty, staff, and students of all identities can thrive. We embrace diversity, inclusion, and individual skills, ideas, and knowledge. Learn more about NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, and interact with us on  LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

Position Summary: We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Lead Central Sterile Technician - Days - LOH. In this role, the successful candidate responsible for ensuring all instruments (e.g., exchange carts, par level carts, instrument sets and single peel packs) and emergency supplies meet established quotas, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Deliver instruments to the surgical suites in a timely manner. Decontaminate, disinfect, test, adjust and assemble mobile patient equipment and assist in decontaminating designated surgical instrumentation. Conducts inventories (e.g., orders and stocks medical disposable goods in storage areas and ensures sterile processing of all materials. Provides guidance and monitor quality of work assignments for Supply Assistants and Supply Attendants. Answers telephone; responds to requests from internal and external customers and actively participate in a continuous quality improvement process.

Job Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of instrument decontamination and disinfection procedures, cleaning methods and decontamination of equipment. Ensures the appropriate cleaning methods are used to care for instruments: hand washing, mechanical washing or disinfection, especially in removal of protein and corrosion and in the sorting for repair. Demonstrate knowledge of the different detergents utilized for cleaning, disinfecting and rinsing agents relative to type, amount/concentration, and temperature for safety and effectiveness, follows correct procedure for loading, operating and troubleshooting the decontamination equipment for optimum cleaning. Utilizes and ensures appropriate personal protective equipment is worn according to departmental policy. It is cognizant of cross contamination prevention and universal standard precautions.
• Ensures infection control guidelines are followed during the transferring, storing and transporting of sterile packages. Effectively performs hand-washing techniques before handling sterile instrument sets, and before and after leaving the department. Understands the importance of hand-washing in preventing infections and cross contamination. Reviews sterilizer charts before transferring a sterile releasing a sterile load for storage allowing adequate time for instruments sets to cool off before transferring or being delivered to the end user. Ensures that all items with implant labels have received a negative culture result before they are dispensed or delivered to the users. Documents on the Implants Release Form the release of the set ensuring all information required is included. Informs the supervisor of any releases. Ensures the integrity of packages has not been compromised before it is transferred to the delivery carts. Removes packages that have visible damage and returns them to be reprocessed.
• Participates in service line activities to ensure performance improvement by enforcing quality assurance standards for sterilization procedures and surgical tray packaging. Serves as liaison to the Resource Nurses, Surgical Services personnel and customers within the department. Is responsible for maintaining a good working relationship with customers. Is knowledgeable of all service line surgical instruments sets and its functions. Recognizes individual instruments by service and is able precept attendants on properly inspecting, testing, assembling and packing instruments in the sets. Participates in the service line and CS/SS PIT meetings and reports any progress/issues to the team and preventive measures taken. Ensures to obtain manufacturer recommendations on new instruments and equipment from service line and/or Resource Nurses. Informs Training Coordinator in new changes.
• Demonstrate ability to perform and can precept disassembling instruments, and mobile patient equipment for cleaning and ensures all bio-burden material is removed. Inspects important points in instruments and equipment to ensure they are functioning properly and there is no damage. Documents damaged instrumentation into SPM and understand the importance of reporting discrepancies. Efficiently maintains the flow of surgical instrument trays from the mechanical washer into the staging area. Thoroughly understands the decontam verification process. Conducts all decontamination process verification test, interprets and document the results. Follows up according to protocol when the outcome of the verification tests are unsatisfactory. Reports outcome to supervisors.
• Ensures proper protocol is used during sterile processing preparation and assembly, inspection and packaging and all sterilization processes; delivers sterile packages and maintain related records. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge disassembling, assembling, identifying instruments by name, ensure instruments are thoroughly inspected for sharpness, functionality and integrity and can percept CS assistants in learning surgical instrumentation for all surgical services including Gen, ENT, Ortho, Neuro, Plastics, and Cardiac. Assist in maintaining and ordering the back-up instrument inventory to par and utilizes resources available to replace faulty/missing instruments and/or contacts the Resource Nurse for replacement. Ensures sets due for maintenance/repair are sent out to be refurbished.
• Monitors and audits inventory by conducting random sampling of products; ensures instruments and supplies meet criteria standards prior to delivery to the department. Is knowledgeable and is able to describe the quality assurance process as well as all projects in progress. Actively participates with the team in selecting issues/processes to be audit. Thoroughly follows inspection of rigid, flexible scopes and delicate instrument as part of the proactive quality assurance program; monitors thresholds for breakages and reports the outcome to the Resource Nurses. Participates in the coordination of audits within the department and Surgical Services and reports the outcome to the supervisor any discrepancies. Ensures quality control procedures are followed to record and label packs to be sterilized with the sterilization date, load and lot number record of each load. Monitors all transactions and packages to be sterilized, provides documentation and justification on rejected loads and ensures the Sterilization.
• Utilizes the instrument tracking system to search, update, and modify instrument data. Thoroughly understand the function and purpose of the SPM Instrument Tracking System. Understands and utilizes all functions according to protocol. Demonstrate skill in the operation of the application. Accurately incorporates and encourages the scanning of all tasks, transactions and sets processed into the daily productivity record to achieve and maintain the productivity level within the set standard of 85%. Selects the appropriate department and tasks to be scanned. Utilizes all codes assigned to the different functions. Utilizes all codes available and understand the importance of deleting the personal information before moving on to another task.
• Provides support to the manager and direction to the staff, and facilitates the workflow through the department (e.g., assists with training newly hired staff in the procedures of the department and pertinent Medical Center policies). Documents clearly on the OR priority list report items that have been completed and what has not been prepared for the next day cases. Ensures all items listed on the priority list are processed first and communicates with the OR and CS leadership on any delays. Demonstrates ability and willingness to motivate, mentor staff and develop good working relationships with customers and team members. Effectively interacts and cooperates with employees and other people.
• Proactively works with the training coordinator in identifying the need for further continuing education/training and professional development. Reports trainees progress to the Training Coordinator. Leads by example providing direction, motivation and support/starts a new project and make changes. Participates constructively to the success of the team. Demonstrates unity by supporting decisions made in private while maintaining the confidentiality to the department. Reports all incidents of harassment and breaches of confidentiality to the department manager.
• Demonstrates knowledge on all sterilization wrapping packaging and techniques use to package according to size, proper labeling of contents, proper sealing of packages (tape, heat seal or container locks), and sterilization process. Assist in monitoring techniques utilized throughout the preparation and packaging area including proper safeguarding of items needing protection in packaging (scissor ends, delicate instruments, etc.). Ensures the correct set label is affixed on the appropriate pack/container. Ensures accuracy when assembling multiple parts instruments, power equipment and scopes to ensure functionality. Thoroughly inspects instruments for bio-burden debris, alignment, sharpness and functionality. Ensure all written procedures for preparation, assembling, inspecting and packaging instruments are followed as stated in the instrument count sheet. Demonstrates ability to make processing decisions to ensure items are sterilized without compromised.
• Utilizes advanced expertise and problem-solving skills to assist staff in the performance of their jobs. Handles requests from customers coming to the department in a courteous and productive manner. Consistently follows through with the complete processing of items and supplies received. Accepts and demonstrates responsibility for their timely and accurate delivery to the customer. Is trained to work in all phases of the process in the Main Sterile Processing and Distribution as well as satellite areas and is knowledgeable of all functions of the department and is able to troubleshoot and resolve any apparent problem. Assist in monitoring staff performance progress and recommends additional training when needed.

Minimum Qualifications: To qualify you must have a High school diploma or the equivalent. Current certification for Central Service by an accredited agency -Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA). Minimum of five years experience of SPD or two years experience SPD with certification as instrument specialist and proven abilities. Must hold comprehensive knowledge and experience in surgical instrumentation in Gen, ENT, Ortho, Neuro, Plastics, and Cardiac. Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to interpret procedural policies and to follow written instructions required. Ability to perform detailed work and basic mathematical calculations. Must have a thorough knowledge of microbiology as it relates to SPD and OR, cleaning procedures, disinfection and sterilization protocols, and the maintenance, disassembly and assembly of hospital equipment, surgical instruments and regulatory standards. Operational knowledge of standard OR surgical supplies, prostheses, instruments, and equipment. Knowledge of medical terminology, including surgical procedures, and human anatomy is required. Previous experience maintaining and operating all pieces of automated and mechanical equipment used in the processing areas (e.g., washer/decontaminator, sterilizer, cart washer, etc.). Ability to operate basic office equipment (e.g., personal computer, photocopier, etc.). Preferred Qualifications: Completion of formal leadership education and/or the Certification in Healthcare Leadership concepts. Knowledge in SPM Instrument Tracking system. Qualified candidates must be able to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization.

NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital at NYU Langone Health is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender dysphoria, national origin, age, religion, disability, military and veteran status, marital or parental status, citizenship status, genetic information or any other factor which cannot lawfully be used as a basis for an employment decision. We require applications to be completed online.
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NYU Langone Health provides a salary range to comply with the New York state Law on Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements. The salary range for the role is $63,750.00 - $66,450.00 Annually. Actual salaries depend on a variety of factors, including experience, specialty, education, and hospital need. The salary range or contractual rate listed does not include bonuses/incentive, differential pay or other forms of compensation or benefits.

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