Sterile Processing Educator - Quality Improvement

Summary

n/a

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Primary education and quality oversight of the organization-wide Sterile Processing services that contribute to quality improvement, outcome management and decision support for Sterile Processing services at all sites which include Duke Street, WBH, Ambulatory Surgical Facility, Pain Management, Endoscopy, and Anesthesia. Monitors decontamination, equipment cleaning, sterilization, instrument assembly and case cart preparation across three SPD locations. Develops, organizes and leads customer-focused team(s) that will facilitate compliance with all regulatory requirements, performance improvement oversight, quality monitoring and LGH Sterile Processing outcomes measurement and reporting. Responsible for orientation, ongoing education, and staff competency at all Perioperative sites.

Provides a comprehensive technical orientation, education and training program for the processing technicians in sterile processing departments. Plan and direct the education process without specific instructions, collaborate with SPD supervisors and shift leaders to prepare new employee orientation work assignments, give specific instructions and prioritize assignments according to department policy and procedures and direction of the sterile processing manager.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Qualified individuals must have the ability (with or without reasonable accommodation) to perform the following duties:

• Provides leadership for comprehensive and cohesive competency based approach to Perioperative and Sterile Processing education and development including orientation, annual required education, and curricula that supports lifelong learning and all aspects of professional practice including compliance with regulatory standards, evidence based practice, policies, procedures, standards, and professional accountability.

• Provides leadership for comprehensive Sterile Processing Department education while ensuring team safety via compliance with OSHA, AAMI, ANSI, IAHCSMM, AORN, Joint Commission, and AST standards.

• Communicates and collaborates with other disciplines and departments to maximize safe patient care outcomes in the operative and procedural areas Sterile Processing supports.

• Accountable for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of quality management and safety initiatives. Reports Safety and quality outcomes to the Sterile Processing Manager.

• In collaboration with the Sterile Processing Manager, responsible for maintaining and coordinating policies, procedures, and training programs that document and support ongoing safety and quality management activities for the Sterile Processing and perioperative teams.

• Participates in activities and on committees in the organization that relate to safety and performance improvement.

• Develops and directs a comprehensive educational and orientation program.

• Plans, develops and participates in the education and orientation of SPD staff. Assists in training of personnel for decontamination procedures, equipment operation, set up of instrument sets, utilizing the Instrument Tracking System, case cart preparation, sterilization and personnel competencies.

• Maintains good interpersonal relationships with co-workers and all personnel, acting as a liaison and problem solver. Encourages good communication between manager, co-workers and customers. Encourages team building and excellent customer service.

• Develops a competency skill assessment and conducts skill checks for new employees and annual rechecks for all employees.

• Chairs the department professional development committee. Develops, administers, compiles, and evaluates data on an ongoing basis to assess educational needs.

• Collaborates with perioperative educators and leadership to provide seamless educational services including formal consultation, orientation and individual coaching.

• Demonstrates and advises on principles of sterilization and procedures for area. Keeps current in sterilization technology and practices. Looks for and advises on process improvements.

• Monitors staff compliance in the instrument and supply areas. Duties in this area include sorting instruments and equipment arranging set-ups, storing equipment for future use and picking instruments and supplies for scheduled cases. Ensures cleanliness, functionality and integrity of sterilized products. Ensures good quality assurance for completeness.

• Performs daily biological validity reports, auditing records for completeness.

• Maintains knowledge of proper techniques for infection control. Monitors all personnel for compliance with aseptic techniques and safety standards in assigned areas.

• Develops an on-going performance improvement program to ensure high standards of performance in the department.

• Utilizes extensive knowledge of instrumentation to provide assistance to user and staff.

• Maintains instrument tracking system. Provides training and direction to end user of the system and procedures and performs system file maintenance.

• Provides education and guidance on policies and procedures for sterilization and high-level disinfection system-wide, including staff performing these processes in medical offices.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS: The following duties are considered secondary to the primary duties listed above:

• Maintains professional acumen, participates in professional organizations, maintains continuing education as required by professional certification boards.

• Serves on committees of the hospital, medical staff, and department.

• Acts as a role model for staff and serves as a resource for problem resolution.

• Attends and participates at departmental meetings.

• Provides input for staff performance.

• Provides relief supervision for the departmental manager as requested.

• Other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School diploma or equivalent (GED).

• Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) (within 6 month of hire)

• Five (5) years of surgical instrument processing experience

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree

• Three to five (3-5) years of CRCST/Surgical Instrument Processing experience.

• One to two (1-2) years of SPD/OR supervisory experience.

• Certification in Healthcare Leadership (CHL) administered by IAHCSMM.

• Two (2) years Information Systems user experience.

COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS:

Attention/Concentration: The following level of ability is essential for the jobholder to focus on certain aspects of current experience and reject others.

The position requires strong concentration skills. The individual must have the ability to voluntarily sustain concentration to a task over an extended period of time because of an effortful and usually deliberate heightened and focused state of attention.

New Learning and Memory: The following level of ability is essential for the jobholder to learn and retain material.

The position requires that an individual be able to learn new tasks quickly and effectively. Job requirements change frequently. The ability to understand and carry out detailed, involved instructions is mandatory.

Problem Solving, Reasoning and Creative Thinking: The following level of ability that is essential for the jobholder to think (in order to solve a problem) by combining two or more elements from past experience or imaginative thought.

The position required much autonomy of thought and problem solving. The individual must be able to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems. The individual must be able to think abstractly, which is manifested in the ability to form concepts, use categories, generalize from single instances, apply procedural rules and general principles, and be aware of subtle or intrinsic aspects of a problem. The development of hypothesis and potential solutions to problems involves careful interpretation, analysis and diagnosis. The individual must be able to collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. The individual must be able to think creatively with a degree of inventiveness, experimentation and intuition. They must be able to deal with a variety of concrete and abstract variables.

APTITUDES: The following are essential requirements of the position in relation to job-worker situations. These items describe how a worker must adapt, adjust, conform or act.

Communication: Ability to exchange information with others clearly and concisely; to present ideas, facts and technical information.

EQUIPMENT USAGE REQUIREMENTS

Equipment/Tools: Computer, Phone, Copier, Printer, Fax, Office Supplies

Software: Microsoft Office Products, Instrument Tracking System

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Rarely 0-10%; Occasionally 11-35%; Frequently 36-70%; Continuously 71-100%

Body Position/Movement:

• Sit: Frequently

• Stand: Frequently

• Walk: Frequently

• Bend: Frequently

• Push: Occasionally

• Pull: Occasionally

• Kneel/Squat: Occasionally

• Reach: Occasionally

• Twist: Occasionally

• Balance: Occasionally

• Climb: Rarely

Lifting: Degree of physical exertion is: Moderate , exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Sensory Abilities specifically required:

• Vision

• Hearing

• Touch/Feeling

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Position involves exposure to the following harmful elements:

• Bio hazardous Waste

• Blood borne Pathogens

• Chemicals

• Extreme Noise Levels

• High Pressure Steam/Gas

• Moving/Rotating Machinery.

Disclaimer: This job description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be a reflection of those principal job elements essential for recruitment and selection, for making fair job evaluations, and for establishing performance standards. The percentages of time spent performing job duties are estimates, and should not be considered absolute. The incumbent shall perform all other functions and/or be cross-trained as shall be determined at the sole discretion of management, who has the right to amend, modify, or terminate this job in part or in whole. Incumbent must be able to perform all job functions safely.

Benefits At A Glance:

PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH offers the following benefits to employees

• 100% Tuition Assistance at The Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays

• Shift, Weekend and On-Call Differentials

• Health, Dental and Vision Coverage

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

• Retirement Savings Account with Company Matching

• Child Care Subsidies

• Onsite Gym and Fitness Classes

Disclaimer

PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.

Search Firm Representatives please read carefully: PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH via-email, the Internet or directly to hiring managers at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health in any form without a valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the sole property of PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH as a result of the referral or through other means.

PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH, a member of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine), is a not-for-profit health system with a comprehensive network of care encompassing Lancaster General Hospital (LGH), Women & Babies Hospital and the Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital (a partnership with Kindred Healthcare). We are an Accredited Trauma Center-Level I through the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation with 805 Licensed beds. Our membership in Penn Medicine brings together the strengths of a world-renowned, not-for-profit academic medical center and a nationally recognized, not-for-profit community healthcare system.

Outpatient services are provided at the Downtown Outpatient and Suburban Outpatient Pavilions, along with additional outpatient centers and Express and Urgent Care locations throughout the region. Lancaster General Health Physicians is a network of more than 300 primary-care and specialty physicians, at more than 40 offices throughout the region.