Decontaminates, processes, sterilizes, and assembles complex arrangements of specialized and intricate surgical instruments, equipment and supplies for surgical procedures.  Monitors surgical schedules to prioritize instruments, equipment and supplies. Contains and disposes of large volumes of hazardous biological waste.  Tests and operates complex sterilizing and disinfecting equipment.

Under general direction, uses specialized knowledge of surgical instruments and operating room procedures to identify, disassemble, decontaminate, assemble, test, adjust, and inventory complex and intricate surgical instruments, equipment, and supplies.   Assembles complex arrangements of surgical instruments, equipment and supplies and ensure that surgical instrument sets are complete and operational. Working in a sterile environment, monitors and provides technical support to operating room staff during surgical procedures regarding the assembly and operation of surgical instruments and equipment.  Performs minor adjustments and repairs to instruments and equipment during surgical procedures.

Prioritizes the need for instruments, equipment and supplies based on the scheduled surgical cases, surgeries in process and surgical cases added during the work schedule; 

Identifies and sorts contaminated instruments and equipment to protect delicate instruments and to clean items completely; 

Disassembles and reassembles items with multiple parts; 

Recognizes dissembled parts of intricate instruments and equipment and reassembles and/or returns to the appropriate trays; 

Determines and uses the appropriate decontamination procedure;

Disassembles and decontaminates equipment and instruments using approved disinfectants, detergents, soaps, cleaners and processing methods; 

Collects and disposes of large volumes of biohazardous waste materials from surgical procedures; 

Loads sterilization carts and processes products, including surgical instrument sets; 

Inspects, tests, reassembles, tests for proper functioning, packages, labels and dates instrumentation and equipment; 

Problem-solves sterilizer malfunctions; 

Determines the disposition of surgical instruments and equipment by recognizing whether it is part of regular inventory or an outside source; 

Serves as a liaison between the surgical services staff, outside sources, and processing room staff  to communicate status of requests for instruments and equipment; 

Provides technical support and assistance to operating room staff within a sterile environment regarding the assembly and operation of surgical instruments, equipment and supplies; 

Verifies correct sterilization cycles by checking and signing graphs and printouts; 

Performs, analyzes, and documents sterilizer function tests using vacuum, chemical, and biological indictors; takes appropriate action for abnormal results; 

Responds to emergency requests and provides instrumentation and equipment based on knowledge of procedure intended and problem solves to provide adequate substitutions, if needed; 

May direct the work of others; 

Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of:  standard hospital equipment; sterilization and decontamination practices and procedures.

Ability to:  perform meticulous and accurate work; maintain sterile environment; learn prescribed methods for establishing sterile conditions.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position. 

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Completion of a recognized Central Supply Technician course AND one year of technical experience involving sterilization of surgical trays, medical supplies, equipment and instruments in a hospital or institution central medical supply unit 

OR 

High school graduation or equivalent AND two years of experience processing complex trays of surgical instruments and equipment 

OR 

Equivalent education/experience.