Overview

The Sterile Processing Technician program at Medical Training Institute is designed to provide students with entry-level training that will prepare them to function in the sterile processing and distribution areas of health care facilities. The program provides students with knowledge of surgical instruments, microbiology, medical equipment, surgical terminology, and storage and distribution, as well as the skills required for sterilization and decontamination. Students are also taught necessary skill sets, such as critical thinking under pressure, case preparation and management, and safety. The final externship portion of the curriculum is structured to include supervised experiences in the clinical environment that require competencies, logs, and evaluations completed by the student. At the conclusion of the program, graduates who have diligently attended class and their externship studied and practiced their skills should have the skills to seek entry-level employment as Central Sterile Processing Technician.

A sterile processing technician, or central service technician, is a health care professional who prepares, installs, assembles, cleans, and sterilizes all the health care and laboratory equipment used in medical exams, surgeries, and other clinical procedures. They ensure strict adherence to sterilization processes and assure that instruments, equipment, and supplies are safe for reuse across patients on a daily basis. They play an integral role in ensuring the success of surgeries. Sterile processing technicians usually work in clinics, hospitals, doctors' offices, and other settings that use medical equipment.

A sterile processing technician regularly performs several duties, including:

• Preparing and delivering clean and sterilized instruments and equipment necessary for medical examinations, surgeries, medical carts and clinical procedures
• Sterilizing, wrapping, organizing, and preparing medical equipment and surgical instruments into instrument trays for use during clinical procedures.
• Laying out surgical gloves and gowns before each medical procedure
• Collecting and manually cleaning used and contaminated medical equipment, supplies and instruments for sorting and decontamination.
• Preparing and packing decontaminated medical tools and supplies for sterilization.
• Operating and monitoring sterilization equipment
• Examining supplies meticulously to ensure their cleanliness.
• Checking and reporting any problems or issues with the sterilization equipment to surgeons or supervisors and requesting replacements
• Maintaining records of sterilization procedures, equipment maintenance, sterilized items and supplies
• Reordering medical and surgical supplies, controlling the inventory, and checking the expiration dates of products
• Removing medical waste and disposing of them appropriately

Sterile processing technicians learn the most effective ways to clean, sterilize, store and inspect Medical Instruments and equipment before and after surgery. Sterile processing programs can prepare you for a career and professional certification in sterile processing and distribution.