The Sterile Processing Supervisor is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the sterile processing department within the healthcare facility. This position plays a critical role in ensuring that medical equipment and instruments are properly sterilized, maintained, and readily available for patient care, contributing to the safety and efficiency of the healthcare system.

Departmental Specific Summary

Essential Duties

• Supervise and coordinates all the activities of SPD personnel engaged in decontaminating, cleaning, processing and assembling, storing and distributing sterile trays for the care and treatment of patients.
• Plans and evaluates daily assignments according to work requirements and SPD staff capabilities.
• Plans and coordinates the need for equipment required for scheduled cases and Prioritize sterilization according to OR schedule
• Supervise SPD staff sterilization documentation to ensure adherence to JCAHO and infection control standards as they relate to the department.
• Plans and evaluates all methods for maintaining instruments, equipment log repairs and loaner equipment, informing all appropriate staff members if items require repair / replacement.
• Supervise and evaluates staff in following the workflow decontamination protocol according to Policy and Procedures.
• Supervise and coordinates all activities related to instrument menus and make changes as deemed necessary in keeping with current standards.
• Responsible for monitoring resource utilization and reordering as necessary to reduce cost and to maintain a high level of efficiency.
• Establishes and maintains performance improvement and quality control activities that support the department and the hospital level of care.
• Supervise and evaluates all activities related to proper cleaning of instruments and checking for proper function of items according to manufactures guidelines before Staff assembling trays.
• Acts as a liaison between PDS personnel and the OR staff in conjunction with SPD Manager.
• Responsible for ensuring SPD staff assist the OR team in obtaining instruments and supplies deemed necessary before and during the operating procedure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with hospital personnel and others in a professional manner.
• Coordinates and Supervises all education and orientation for all SPD staff.
• Coordinates and integrates department services on intradepartmental, interdepartmental, and hospital wide levels.
• Helps establish and maintaining Department Policy and Procedures.
• Plans and evaluates space / resources requirements and utilization of outside resources.
• Demonstrates appropriate human resource management skills under supervision of the SPD Manager.
• Identifies situations (policies and procedures, systems, equipment, instruments, supplies etc) that do not support customer service, brings them to the attention of Management Team, and initiates an action plan to correct the problem.
• The SPD Supervisor practices according to USCUH collaboration principles and demonstrates respectful teamwork and delegation. Maintain compliance with all relevant regulations and accreditation standards.
• Able to utilize Computer in updating and creating instrument/equipment menus and list.
• Promotes professional growth within department including in-services / preparation and presentation.
• Provides for own professional growth regarding trends in equipment and sterilization methods through formal and informal continuing education
• Interviews new candidates and plans orientation to the department for new hires.
• Supports continuous and ongoing customer satisfaction through the hospital-wide service excellence standards.
• Collaborate with other healthcare departments to optimize the flow of sterile instruments.
• Ensure that all required materials available prior to scheduled cases.
• Report any unresolved delays in the provision of material, that may adversely affect OR cases, immediately, to the Director.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels for all surgical inventory locations in multiple facilities, utilizing IMMS system ROP/ROQ levels.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels for all surgical inventory locations in multiple facilities, utilizing IMMS system ROP/ROQ levels.
• Perform and /or delegate the daily functions associated with count verification of all surgical inventory locations, to insure all inventory location counts are correct within generally accepted time frames.
• Perform and or delegate weekly cycle counts of all surgical instrument locations and submit results to manager in the department, within every five day period, without fail.
• Conduct regular equipment inspections and ensure maintenance and repairs are performed as needed.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies and best practices in sterile processing.
• Address and resolve any quality control issues or concerns related to instrument sterility.
• Maintain all additions and deletions to the SPD inventory location.
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment to prevent cross-contamination.
• Implement and enforce infection control policies and procedures.
• Conduct regular equipment inspections and ensure maintenance and repairs are performed as needed.
• Responsible for analyzing and making recommendations for inventory reduction by specialty.
• Responsible for recommending and coordinating consignment conversions.
• Develop and manage the department's budget, optimizing cost control while maintaining quality.
• Act as liaison in Facilitating, open, accurate, and complete communication between SPD and OR. Ensure the safety of patients and staff by adhering to infection control protocols.
• Provide performance evaluations and support the professional development of staff.
• Assist with necessary monitoring of vendor impact within the OR supply arena.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Pref Specialized/technical training Graduate of a state approved, accredited Sterile Processing or Surgical Technology Program.
• Req High School or equivalent
• Req 3-5 years Experience in sterile processing/OR Environment
• Req Committed to excellence in patient care and customer service.
• Req Demonstrates ability to work independently with minimal direction and supervision.
• Req Demonstrates ability to utilize effective, appropriate and diplomatic oral and written communication skills.
• Req Certified Registered Central Service Technician - CRCST (IAHCSMM) or CSPDT “Certified Sterile Processing Department Technician” through an accredited organization (HSPA, CBSPD).
• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)