Covenant Health

Supervisor, Sterile Processing

Full Time, 80 Hours per pay period, Day Shift

Fort Sanders Regional Overview:

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is a 444-bed hospital recognized for pairing clinical expertise with advanced medical technology to deliver exceptional care. As a Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center, we provide leading-edge treatment for stroke recovery. Our facility also offers specialized services in bariatric surgery, robotic surgery, minimally invasive spine procedures, and advanced orthopedic care.

Fort Sanders Regional is part of Covenant Health, East Tennessee’s largest nonprofit health system and a Becker’s “Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare.” Covenant Health includes nine hospitals and nearly 150 service locations, offering employees a comprehensive benefits package with tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, certification bonuses, and leadership development programs.

Position Summary:

Works under the general direction of the Manager of Sterile Processing. Performs all functions necessary to supervise daily operations of the Sterile Processing Department. Accountable for conducting and leading activities such as the daily production schedule, maintenance, ordering, receiving, supply usage, assembly, and quality assurance. Responsible for systematic monitoring and evaluation of various aspects of sterile packing and standard documentation practices, consistently ensuring products are up to defined high quality standards.

• Responsible for interpreting and complying with the department Quality Assurance Standards, including completion of Device History, Bioburden Monitoring, Non-Conformance, Equipment Repair, and Deviation Records.
• Oversee daily activities of the department. Schedules staff in coordination with the Manager. Create and adjust assignments to meet department needs and ensure sterile products are available for patient use.
• Develops and improves upon standards for design and production of surgical trays. Ensures products are up to defined high quality standards and are safe to be used on patients.
• Performs rounds within SPD areas, Operating room, and procedural areas to assess service levels and conduct quality control inspections to ensure that activities/procedures are performed timely and in accordance with established standards, practices, policies and regulatory requirements.
• Analyzes product and supply levels to ensure the proper minimums and maximums are specified for both raw and finished products.
• Responsible for preparing and communicating purchase orders within the manufacturing software, including tracking orders and analyzing daily product and supply levels to anticipate inventory problems and/or shortages.
• Responsible for receiving of all products following standards, as well as facilitating any needed supplier returns.
• Maintains product location and identification program. Performs data entry in accordance with established guidelines.
• Identifies training opportunities within the production environment and/or needs for entire department, ensuring completion of such training. Maintains records of employee training and competency.
• Responsible for determining and implementing any cost-saving opportunities to the production process that will minimize delays and increase production efficiency.
• Performs instrument decontamination according to manufacturer guidelines while separating and protecting instrumentation according to departmental guidelines
• Responsible for overseeing all equipment routine maintenance and ensuring records are up to date. Follow up on any identified issues. Coordinate any additional needs with the Manager and other departments as needed.
• Responsible for effective, timely, and autonomous decision-making in all matters which arise in absence of the Manager.
• Participates in staff selection, training, evaluation as needed. Develops any training plans needed based on staff performance and knowledge.
• Supports all applicable software programs needed for inventory control and production.
• Attends all meetings as required and maintains professional growth and development.
• Responsible for supporting and upholding a high ethical standard with respect to business and professional conduct while in the employment of Covenant Health.
• Responsible for endorsing, supporting, and exemplifying the vision, value, and purpose statement of Covenant Health and the Sterile Processing Department.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:           

None specified; will accept any combination of formal education and/or prior work experience sufficient to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skill, and ability needed to perform the essential tasks of the job, typically such as would be equivalent to a high school diploma or GED. Preference may be given to individuals possessing an Associate’s degree in a directly-related field from an accredited college or university.

Minimum Experience:         

Minimum of three (3) years in sterile processing

Licensure Requirement:      

IAHCSMM (International Association for Healthcare Material Management) as a Certified Registered Sterile Processing Technician (CRCST) or CBSPD (Certification Board for Sterile Processing Technicians) as a Certified Sterile Processing Distribution Technician (CSPDT) certification is required.