Central Sterile Lead Technician/40 hours/evenings

At Bristol Health, we begin each day caring today for your tomorrow.  We have been an integral part of our community for the past 100 years. We are dedicated to providing the best possible care and service to our patients, residents and families.  We are committed to provide compassionate, quality care at all times and to uphold our values of Communication, Accountability, Respect and Empathy (C.A.R.E.).   We are Magnet ® and received the 2020 Press Ganey Leading Innovator award for our rapid adoption and implementation of healthcare solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Use your expertise, compassion, and kindness to transform the patient experience.  Make a difference.  Make Bristol Health your choice.

Under the direction of the Operations Manager, Central Sterile Services, facilitates daily operations of the CSS Department and Supply Chain, including decontamination, assembly, sterilization and distribution, and management of case cart system and acquisition of consumable products to support Perioperative Services.  

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Assists with ensuring staffing or call on a 24-hour basis appropriate to patient needs and within budget parameters.
• Remains accessible to staff and assures appropriate dissemination of information and consistently provides feedback to staff on positive and negative aspects of performance.
• Acts as a role model by demonstrating proper, flexible and creative problem solving
• Remains accessible to staff and assures appropriate dissemination of information and consistently provides feedback to staff on positive and negative aspects of performance.
• Utilizes appropriate communication and collaboration skills.
• Continually monitors and adjusts caseload and assignments throughout the day in response to patient and Physician needs.
• Encourages interdepartmental communications that support patient focused care.
• Maintain par level inventory of supplies for all departments interfacing with C.S.S and reorder as needed.
• Develops working knowledge of sterilization techniques in order to help staff in C.S.S. with daily routine and trouble-shooting.
• Acts as liaison for C.S.S. and all hospital departments.

Establishes and maintains a safe and secure working environment and takes corrective action when necessary.

• Makes environmental and clinical rounds as needed.
• Maintains acceptable standards of decontamination and sterilization processes.
• Provides a supportive learning environment for students.
• Monitors sterilization processes and provides feedback.
• Implements unit based Quality Assurance.
• Assists in policy and procedure development.
• Monitors and maintains environment to comply with JCAHO and states standards.
• Ensures that staff is aware of the standards for documentation of sterilization processes.

Participates in the recruitment/orientation/development of staff.

• Screens and interviews candidates
• Supervises orientation in collaboration with assigned Educator.
• Coordinates in services by specialty.
• Monitors and updates staff unit specific competencies.
• Develops and revises unit based orientation.
• Acts as a resource for new technology and equipment.  
• Assigns and monitors preceptors and cross training.  
• Performs community outreach to CSS and Surgical Technologist students to encourage careers in healthcare.

Maintains responsibility for own professional growth and development.

• Regularly evaluates professional areas of strengths and weakness, and seeks opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Shows progress toward achievement of professional and educational goals.
• Attains and maintains certification in CSS management.
• Represents OR and CSS at appropriate committees.

Educational / Minimum Requirements:

• A.S. Degree, Certified through the CBSPD or IAHCSMM completion and/or OR Tech Program.
• Certified Surgical Tech with CSS experience. • Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in Operating Room and Central Sterile Supply. Supervisor experience preferred.   
• Production and Processing – knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Customer and Personal Service – knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• State/Federal Mandated Licensure or Certification Requirements:
• Certified Surgical Tech or CSS Certification required.
• Bristol Hospital Mandated Educational Requirements:
• General orientation at time of hire. Fire/Safety/Infection Control annually. Other programs as mandated by Hospital.

Special Requirements:

• Processing information – compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing or verifying information or data.
• Provide consultation and advice to others - providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical systems, or process-related topics.

Physical Requirements:

On feet for extended periods. Standing, walking, lifting, sitting, reaching. Ability to frequently lift objects more than 20 pounds, perform simple manipulative hand-eye coordination skills, see objects closely and hear normal sounds with some background noises.

Work Environment:

Regular exposure to patient elements, high stress.

Cognitive Requirements:

Strong critical thinking skills; good communication skills, oral and written. Knowledge of decontamination, assembly, and medical terminology. Knowledge of instrumentation used in the Operating Rooms. Ability to concentrate on detail with some interruption and attend to tasks for more than 45 minutes at a time. Individual must be able to understand and relate theories behind several related concepts and remember multiple tasks/assignments given to self and others over long periods of time. Able to maintain composure under stressful circumstances.

Skills Required:

Complex problem solving • Active listening • Critical thinking • Originality & creativity

Conditions of Employment

In adherence with our safety and compliance regulations, upon hire you are subject to a criminal background check and health clearance (including drug testing) through Occupational Health.

The health and safety of our patients and employees is a top priority which is why we have mandatory flu shots. Exceptions for medical and religious reasons will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please be aware all Bristol Hospital and Health Care Group facilities are smoke and tobacco free.

Equal Employment Opportunity

In keeping with our goals of individual recognition and treatment characterized by dignity and respect, we extend hiring and promotional opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of race, color, religious creed, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, military or veteran status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression or any other basis protected by local, state or federal law.

Our policy is to make reasonable accommodation to the limitations of qualified disabled individuals and to provide them with employment opportunities to the extent practical without incurring undue hardship.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.