Sterilization Technician

Sterling Health Solutions, Inc.

Job Description

Title:                    Sterilization Technician 

Supervisor(s):        Practice Manager

Department:         Dental Services

Payroll Status:      Non-Exempt

Effective Date:      August 21, 2024

Job Summary

Responsible for sterilization, preparation and inventory control of dental instruments and supplies.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strictly adhere to infection control standards, staying current with changes as they occur.
2. Process dental instruments and patient care items through the sterilization process safely and efficiently.
3. Maintain sterilization equipment, following manufacture maintenance guidelines and intervals.
4. Turn over operatories, transporting dirty instruments to the sterilization area for processing.
5. Set up treatment rooms for the next patient procedure.
6. Assist with ordering of clinical supplies.
7. Prepare hygiene rooms including, but not limited to, set-up, decontamination, sterilization of all instruments, cleaning handpieces, and restocking supplies.
8. Help dental assistants, dentists, and front desk staff, when necessary
9. Adhere to enhanced infection control protocols and PPE requirements to reduce transmission of infections.
10.  Disinfect as required by OSHA and state regulations.
11. Offer assistance to the front office during downtime.
12. Help clinical assistant as needed.

1. Performs basic independent procedures such as equipment sterilization and disposal of materials as delegated and directed by the dentist in accordance with state regulation and law and established center protocols.
2. Prepares operatory for patient treatment as per Dental Department protocols and the dentist’s or dental hygienist’s directions.
3. Charts in patient record as necessary.
4. Maintains all Dental Department areas in compliance with Dental Department directives and protocols as well as center policies and procedures relative to infection control, exposure control and safety issues.
5. Maintains adequate operatory supplies and compiles a list of individual item shortages for inventory control and ordering purposes.
6. Follows established regulations and professional standards as required of the position.  Participates in and supports continuous quality improvement.
7. If Bilingual interprets as necessary.
8. Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by management.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required

• Must be cognizant of the public health, social and economic factor which impact on the overall health, and more specifically the oral health of their patients.
• Must be able to creatively work with other healthcare professionals from a variety of disciplines to achieve maximal program effectiveness and patient benefit.   
• Ability to operate an electronic dental records software system, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, text paging, Internet, and Intranet.

Credentials and Experience

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent

Credentials and Experience

Preferred

• Experience as a sterilization technician in the dental setting.

Special Requirements

Requires sitting, standing and walking for extensive periods of time.  Requires working under stressful conditions or working irregular hours.  Requires frequent exposure to communicable diseases, body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinic environment. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  Ability to work with a moderate noise level in the work environment is required.  

The above information is intended to describe the most important aspects of the job. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required in order to perform the work. The health center reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the business need arises. Additionally, this job description is not intended as an employment contract, implied or otherwise, and the Center continues to maintain its status as an at-will employer. 

If the essential functions of this position cannot be performed in a satisfactory manner by the employee, reasonable accommodations may be made.