Surgical Linen Sterile Technician

SUMMARY:

According to established procedures, responsible for duties involving the sterilization and issuance of sterile linen for all areas of the hospital complex. Inspects, folds, wraps, dates and sterilizes surgical linen packs. Receives telephone requests for linen packs. Fills linen pack orders and places in linen cart / basket for eventual pickup and or delivers as required. Performs Laundry Aide work as needed and directed.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Operates steam sterilizers following precise instructions, including:

a. Stamps each item with Julian date, load, and machine number. Determines expiration date of item and stamps as appropriate.

b. Includes proper indicator(s), Biological, Chemical Indicators (steam) and “Load Log”.

c. Checks gauges for proper reading and pushed carriage into sterilizer.

d. Loads and unloads carriage and separates items for aeration.

e. Cleans sterilizers as necessary.

f. Operates sterilizer according to established programs

g. Conducts DART and Biological testing according to standards and established procedures.

2. Stocks shelves with clean &sterilized linen packs. Rotates stock according to expire date.

3. Washes and disinfects pack room surface tops and light tables each day.

4. Inspects surgical linens using a light table to remove stained, torn or items with holes.

5. Inspection grids on material are completed after each inspection and items removed from circulation when the grid is full, usually 75 washes.

6. Linens are processed according to IFU information.

7. Linens are patched according to established IFU information.

8. Linens are folded in a precise way

9. Assembles various surgical linen packs with indicators for eventual sterilization

10. Cleans and disinfects work area daily.

11. Answers department telephone and handles simple requests.

12. Deliver linens / Packs to customer departments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to read procedural manuals and follow directions for sterilizing and processing surgical linen and linen packs.
• Numerical and clerical ability to check gauges, read charts and prepare simple records.
• Ability to follow precise instructions for folding and counting correct number of pieces.
• Ability to read and write English.
• Clerical and numerical ability to maintain simple records, count inventory and take orders for linen by telephone.

EXPERIENCE:

• Three to six months on the job training to learn to recognize the various kinds of equipment and linen item types, as well as the sterilization requirements of various surgical linen packs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT ANDPHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Continuous walking and standing, lifting, pushing and pulling with some heat discomfort.
• Physical ability to lift and transport occasionally heavy equipment and to push heavy carriages loaded with medical/surgical supplies.
• Physical ability to lift loads of wet or dry linen, push/pull linen racks and bins of soiled linen and lift bundles.
• Physical ability to visually inspect materials.
• Physical ability to feed folding equipment and sewing machines.
• Physical ability to use brooms, etc. to maintain work area in a clean and safe fashion.
• Exposure to unpleasant odors from solid linens, lint and heat. Walking, standing, lifting (heavy &light loads), bending, and carrying/pushing.
• Exposure to extreme hot and cold temperatures in the work area and noise from the machines.
• Standing on safety ladders to reach uniforms and assemble linen carts.
• Chance of burns and other injury while working with equipment and machines. Chance of injury is minimized with adherence to current safety precautions.

Pay Range: 

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

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Driving Required:

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