CSS Support Tech III (CST III) - Turn Center (1st shift)

Central Sterilizing Services is seeking a full-time Support Technician III (Central Service Technician III) on 1st shift. This position will be scheduled Monday-Friday. 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. This position will be located within the Turn Center at the Medical Center University campus in Iowa City.

The CSS Support Technician at the TC Processing location oversees all support duties within this smaller satellite facility. This role includes managing bi-weekly disposable supply orders and ensuring all necessary items are stocked and available. The technician is also responsible for coordinating TC Holding for Completion trays, working closely with ISC staff to ensure that trays are completed promptly.

In addition, this position requires collaboration with the Support Team to identify and replace missing instruments in trays at the TC location. The technician also serves as a key point of contact for CSS Operations and Nurse Liaisons, helping to troubleshoot and resolve instrument and supply-related issues. They are also responsible for creating instrument equivalencies, building new instruments and products into the tracking system, and completing tray optimization requests to improve efficiency and accuracy in instrument management.

To further support department operations, the technician is actively involved in updating TC backup locations, removing unnecessary instruments, and creating space for Clinic instruments that do not currently have assigned locations. Additionally, they act as a resource on the assembly floor, providing support and guidance to staff to ensure proper tray assembly and adherence to quality standards. This role is essential in maintaining workflow efficiency, ensuring accurate instrument tracking, and supporting the overall operations of the TC Processing location.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• May serve as lead technician and provides expertise regarding technical procedures related to the preparation of sterile instruments, supplies and equipment for use in medical and surgical procedures.  Identifies operational concerns and takes corrective action.  Assigns technical duties to personnel and assumes responsibility for accurately completing shift duties.  Assesses and monitors staff competency, provides feedback and support to assist with performance evaluations.
• Monitors productivity in assigned areas according to established standards and procedures. Insures that Quality Assurance tasks are performed.
• Performs, or may direct performance of, all aspects of training within their area of responsibility and documents employee training progress in training guides.
• Decontaminates, disassembles, inspects, cleans, sorts, and reassembles highly complex surgical instrument and implant trays, operates automatic scope washers, sonic washers, and mechanical washer/decontaminators.  Performs microbicidal processes, standard/transmission based precautions and engineering and work practice controls.    Handles large volumes of complex, high dollar flexible scopes, delicate eye instruments, power equipment and different instrument patterns.
• Interprets manufacturer specifications for care and handling of instrumentation and determines proper sterilization techniques.  Inspects and evaluates instruments for proper function and cleanliness. Confirms all quality assurance mechanisms are in place.
• Performs, or may direct performance of, all aspects of sterilization, packaging inspection, equipment operation, safety procedures, proper documentation, and prioritization.  Sterilizes items per manufacturer’s instructions, verifies correct parameters used for all instruments.
• Assembles, or may direct assembly of, instrument trays in accordance with patient/surgeon procedure specific cards within appropriate time frame and documents missing items.   Performs duties in a high stress environment, responds to emergencies and urgent add-on cases.  Receives and responds to a high volume of phone calls to provide additional items as needed.
• Performs, or may direct performance of, inventory management for high volume of supplies and implants.. Monitors the inventory level of instruments and supplies used in the department and obtains replacements when needed. Maintains inventory records and prepare reports, as needed, for assigned areas.
• Performs biological monitoring of sterilizers to ensure sterilizer efficacy.  Conducts challenge tests on sterilization and decontamination equipment.  Performs preventative maintenance functions on all equipment, as needed.
• Recommends measures to improve production/service methods, equipment performance, scheduling, quality control, and suggest changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase efficiency and safety of the unit.
• Serves as a hospital wide resource on complex and or technical questions related to sterilization, decontamination, disinfection, and maintenance of sterile supplies.
• Advises medical staff and others concerning policies pertaining to sterilization and the maintenance of sterile products.
• Participates in and contributes to department/division/unit committees, meetings and/or projects and in-services.
• Works with management to plan for future needs of assigned shift, including personnel needs, program development, intradepartmental relationships and instrument/equipment needs.
• Maintain departmental policies and procedures and established quality improvement, safety and infection control standards.
• Performs other projects or tasks as assigned.