Instrument Technician, Sterile Processing

Northside Hospital is award-winning, state-of-the-art, and continually growing. Constantly expanding the quality and reach of our care to our patients and communities creates even more opportunity for the best healthcare professionals in Atlanta and beyond. Discover all the possibilities of a career at Northside today.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Receives contaminated instruments used in medical and surgical procedures. Decontaminates using methods such as hand washing, ultrasonic cleaning, and automatic washer-disinfectors.
2. Prepares instruments and other items for sterilization. Sorts, categorizes, inspects, and packages instruments according to count sheets and manufacturers’ instructions for use.
3. Assembles basic and specialty surgical devices and/or instrument trays common to assigned area and correctly identifies instruments used on the surgical trays.
4. Loads items into steam and low-temperature sterilizers, selecting and documenting the appropriate cycle parameters as well as the results of any load monitoring (e.g., parameters achieved, biological indicator results, etc.).
5. Cleans and disinfects surgical department equipment. Disassembles as required for disinfecting or sterilizing.
6. Gathers supplies and instruments required for surgical procedures according to physician preference cards and/or pick tickets.
7. Inventories supplies, periodically checking for outdated or depleted items. Reports items needing replacement.
8. Performs basic clerical or other job‑related duties as required.
9. Demonstrates a basic understanding of surgical terminology.
10. Demonstrates knowledge of basic surgical instrumentation to include basic instrument categories, functions, and points of inspection.
11. Demonstrates knowledge of complex surgical instrumentation to include handling, inspection, and reprocessing requirements for powered surgical instruments, rigid and flexible endoscopes, and endoscopic and robotic instruments and accessories.
12. Demonstrates knowledge of basic protocols related to loaner instrumentation.
13. Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with hospital and departmental policies and procedures. Immediately reports any mechanical or electrical equipment malfunctions, unsafe conditions or employee/patient/visitor injury‑accident to Manager.
14. Serves as a preceptor for new employees and Instrument Technician Interns.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Other duties as assigned by supervision.

REQUIRED

• High school diploma or equivalent education (GED) or post-secondary education.
• One (1) year experience as an Instrument Technician

PREFERRED

• Central Service Technician Certification:
  • Inpatient sterile processing CRCST or CSPDT certification.
  • Outpatient sterile processing CRCST, CSPDT or CASSPT certification.
  • For GI Labs, CFER is acceptable.
• Visual color acuity depending on the role in specific units