Central Service Technician

Education Requirements:
High School Diploma required Click here for more information
Certifications:
Central Service Certification preferred Click here for more information
Salary Range:
Average starting wage: $14.30 per hour
Employment Outlook:
Very Good
Job Overview:
A Central Service Technician is also called a Central Processing Technician or Sterile Processing Technician. (This job group is also referred to as Medical Equipment Preparers.) These technicians work to prepare equipment and supplies for procedures to be performed on patients. The primary job duties of these workers are to decontaminate items that are required in germ-free environments such as operating rooms or examination rooms. Because medical environments have many sick patients, they may have infections or other diseases that can spread. This means medical equipment preparers are very important in keeping sickness isolated in what can be a very infectious environment.
A Central Service Technician disinfects and eliminates the threat of contamination of germs or bacteria on tools and equipment by applying various means of sterilization and cleaning practices. This can include toxic cleaning agents that could be potentially dangerous. Primarily working in a hospital setting, medical equipment preparers work with physicians by preparing and organizing instrument trays, dressings and whatever enters the disinfected environment. They operate the hot steam devices called autoclaves that sterilize tools and operating utensils.
Job Tasks:
- Operate and maintain steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in loads, and maintenance procedures performed.
- Clean instruments to prepare them for sterilization.
- Record sterilizer test results.
- Organize and assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies, filling special requests as needed.
- Deliver equipment to specific hospital locations or other treatment areas.
- Check sterile supplies to ensure that they are not outdated.
- Examine equipment to detect leaks, worn or loose parts or other indications of disrepair.
- Maintain records of inventory or equipment usage and other medical instruments or supplies when inventory is low.
Skills and Abilities Needed to Perform Job:
- Knowledge and use of data software including calendar and scheduling, inventory tracking, medical, spreadsheet and user interface and query.
- Knowledge and use of Microsoft programs.
- English Language -- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.
- 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 and providing customer and personal services.
- Critical Thinking – Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring – Ability to monitor and assess performance of self, others or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Quality Control Analysis – Ability to conduct tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Active Listening – Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate ad not interrupting at in appropriate times.
- Operation Monitoring – Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Desired Work Style Attributes:
- Attention to details
- Integrity – Honest and ethical
- Dependability – Reliable and responsible
- Independence – Developing one's own way of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision and depending on oneself to get things done
- Cooperation – Pleasant with others
- Stress Tolerance – Accepting criticism and dealing calming in stressful situations
- Self-Control – Maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check
- Concern for Others – Sensitive to needs of others
- Social Orientation – Preferring to work with others rather than alone