At Houston Methodist, the Sterile Processing Coordinator position will oversee and coordinate the activities of the Sterile Processing department and service line, as appropriate, to include ensuring new employees are properly oriented and trained, monitoring work flow and volume of the work, and reviewing and maintaining department supply needs. This position is responsible for the monthly schedule and daily shift assignments, staff performance evaluation feedback to the appropriate manager, and assists in the development of the departmental budget. This position is responsible for coordinating the daily activities and personnel involved with decontamination, inspection, assembly, packaging, reprocessing and sterilization of instrumentation and assembly of case carts for the unit. The Sterile Processing Coordinator will maintain consistent and continuous workflow between the Operating Room (OR) and Sterile Processing and is responsible for assisting Manager in meeting all regulatory requirements for the unit related to these activities.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates and assigns, based on the acuity level of the Technician, processing services that are efficiently organized. Ensures instruments and supplies are decontaminated and reprocessed in a timely manner. Serves as the primary resource for staff in all areas of service that the department performs.

• Serves as a role model and mentor, facilitating teamwork, working in conjunction with the OR staff, to provide timely sterile products, trays, and case carts where applicable. Maintains consistent and continuous workflow between the OR and Sterile Processing.

• Communicates in an active, positive, and effective manner to all interprofessional health care team members, listens and responds to the ideas of others. Coaches staff in effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication. Initiates recommendations, collaborating with management, for improvement of employee engagement score.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates the daily interface between sterile processing, surgery, and materials management as well as other departments within and outside of Houston Methodist to ensure that supplies and instruments are available as needed for service lines, as appropriate. Partners with SP Liaison to prepare items in advance for the following day's OR needs.

• Anticipates needs by ensuring that all supplies or instrumentation not routinely available within the department are obtained and ready prior to scheduled surgery cases.

• Plans and monitors staffing levels to ensure appropriate staffing at all times to provide excellent service. Regulates scheduling and department staff assignments based on the needs of the department. Provides daily reporting to management of needs, issues to be addressed, and all important information necessary to ensure department success.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as the primary quality assurance resource for the department through periodic set audits. Reviews and revises, as appropriate, policies and procedures which reflect knowledge of industry standards and recommended practices for sterile processing. Assures department performance follows Houston Methodist policies and procedures and guidelines/standards from pertinent regulatory agencies.

• Continuously assures the effectiveness of the sterilization process by using internal, external and biological monitoring systems appropriately, utilizing established department protocols and sterilizer manufacturers' instructions for use.

• Ensures accurate tracking of all instrumentation in conjunction with the SP Liaison for specific service lines. Maintains and records accurate recordings of sterile area environment requirements per Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), OSHA, and/or Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) guidelines per institutional policies.

• Monitors, reads, documents, and interprets all parameters for all types of sterilizers to ensure proper function ((Steam, Ethylene Oxide (ETO) and Low Temperature Hydrogen Peroxide)).

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitors staffing levels against budgeted targets and adjusts to meet goals. Keeps management informed and involved, as appropriate, to proactively address staffing or other employee issues.

• Maintains the shift's monthly schedule and daily shift assignments, provides input on staff performance evaluation, and assists in the development of the department budget's needs

• Collaborates with Materials Management to identify supply needs and ordering of non-sterile items in need of processing.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leads and identifies opportunities for practice changes and performance improvement. Investigates and incorporates evidence-based practices which are presented to shared governance and leadership. Supports change initiatives and adapts to unexpected changes

• Identifies staff development opportunities for professional growth of colleagues, provides coaching to meet identified goals. Identifies and assists department educator in scheduling of necessary in-services for department staff related to new products, changes in procedure, etc. Provides oversight for new employee preceptorships. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Six years of Sterile Processing experience in an acute care hospital

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• CRCST - Certified Registered Central Service Technician (HSPA) or
• CSPDT - Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CBSPD) and
• CIS - Certified Instrument Specialist (HSPA) within 1 year or
• CSIS - Certified Surgical Instrument Specialist (CBSPD) within 1 year

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Advanced knowledge of infection control, decontamination, and sterilization techniques

• Knowledge and ability to operate, troubleshoot, and train staff on all departmental equipment including, but no limited to, sterilizers, washers, ultrasonic washers, and cart washers.

• Independently demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Proficiency in utilization of basic computer programs such as Microsoft Office and electronic instrument tracking system, if applicable.

• Utilizes all departmental equipment according to manufacturers' instructions for use and departmental polices and protocols

• Demonstrates proper phone etiquette when responding to inquiries made to the department

• Completes departmental and institutional competencies within established required timelines.

• Maintains patient and family privacy

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform Yes
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional No
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Since its founding in 1919, Houston Methodist Hospital has earned worldwide recognition. Houston Methodist Hospital is affiliated with the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the nation's leading centers for medical education and research.  In 2020, U.S. News & World Report named Houston Methodist Hospital to its top ranked Honor Roll for the fourth time and second consecutive year. 2020 also marked the ninth year in a row Houston Methodist Hospital has been named the No. 1 hospital in Texas. Houston Methodist Hospital directs millions of research dollars into patient care and offers the latest innovations in medical, surgical and diagnostic techniques. With 952 operating beds, 85 operating rooms and over 8,000 employees, Houston Methodist offers complete care for patients from around the world.

 

The same high-quality care for which Houston Methodist is known is available at several Emergency Care Centers in Houston and the surrounding areas.  These Emergency Care Centers house exam rooms, full digital radiography suite, low radiation dose 16-slice CT scan, ultrasound and a full on-site stat chemistry lab.