Lead Sterile Processing Tech

About the role

The Lead Sterile Processing Technician position reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Medicine, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Reports to Sterile Processing Supervisor and is responsible for coordinating activities of personnel engaged in cleaning, sterilizing, assembling and distributing of sterilized instruments and equipment upon direction of the Supervisor. Assists Sterile Processing Technicians to help ensure that all policies and procedures are followed, and assists Supervisor with annual staff evaluations. Assist with ordering needed supplies and instruments for department. Helps to ensure that all equipment in the department is in proper working order.

Responsibilities

• Oversees personnel engaged in processing, decontaminating, sterilizing and delivering a wide variety of patient care items and surgical instruments according to established policies and procedures.
• Assists Supervisor in development of departmental and unit policies and procedures upon approval, monitors adherence to same and reports any problems to the Supervisor.
• Works with the Supervisor to ensure maintenance of established quality assurance program standards by performing item sterilization tests, interpreting data and graphs, and verifying correct operation of sterilizers. Ensures proper maintenance of all SPD equipment is completed and logs maintained.
• Interviews new personnel. Helps orient, train and evaluate the performance of Sterile Processing Technicians.
• Monitors proper storage and maintenance of adequate inventory of designated surgical supplies and equipment.
• Works with the Supervisor to ensure that equipment and instruments are in satisfactory operating condition by removing all faulty equipment and arranging for necessary repairs.
• Ensures that medical and surgical items are processed and packaged according to established quality assurance and departmental operating procedures by periodically reviewing processed work.
• Gathers information necessary to evaluate equipment and instruments, and makes appropriate recommendations regarding acquisition of same.
• Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the field by reading appropriate books, journals and other literature and attending related seminars, conferences and the like.
• Assists Supervisor with staffing and call schedules as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Requirements

Required

• High school degree
• Expert Knowledge of sterile technique, AAMI standards and surgical instrumentation
• Certified in Sterile Processing

Preferred

• Advanced Leadership training

Additional Information

Background Check

If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

• We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.
• Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.

If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.