Sterile Processing Technician (SPT)
CCC’s Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) has its foundation in technical as well as general education. The program consists of general education courses which, coupled with sound technical education, will assist students in achieving their full potential in the workplace. The AAS Degree is intended to provide general educational skills to the technically trained student. This program is designed to help meet the general education requirements necessary in many technical and allied health professions.
The objective of the Sterile Processing Technician Program is to provide graduates with the technical ability, skills and knowledge that will prepare them for entry-level employment as a sterile processing technician. Members of sterile processing teams are found in a variety of healthcare facilities including hospitals, dental or eye practices, plastic surgery offices, surgery centers and laboratories. Students will learn to work as part of a team of sterile processing technicians who all work together to maintain sterilization and storage. Students receive training in the essentials of healthcare, surgical instrumentation, anatomy, physiology, medical language and microbiology. An Associate of Applied Science degree will be awarded upon successful completion of this program
Hours: Our Sterile Processing Technician Program is held both day and evening. Day classes are held Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Evening classes are held Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Clinical assignments may not coincide with normal school hours or days. Classes missed due to holidays or other scheduled cancellations are made up on assigned Fridays or by extending regular class hours. This in-depth training is a combination of classroom, interactive lab, and externship.
Nature of the Work:
Sterile processing technicians (SPT) play a vital role in helping hospitals, surgeons and other medical professionals keep patients healthy through sterilizing medical instruments and equipment before medical procedures are performed. As a sterile processing technician, you are responsible for sterilizing instrumentation and equipment through a series of steps. Your work is vital as it helps to ensure that patients avoid infections while receiving the medical attention they need. Doctors, nurses and medical professionals use sterilized instruments and equipment every day to perform surgeries and procedures to protect or improve patient health. The sterile processing technician works under the supervision of the Central Sterile Processing and operating room personnel to facilitate a safe and effective patient procedure.
Duties:
- How to sterilize and assemble instruments and equipment
- Recognize and understand microbiology and infection control
- How to perform decontamination procedures
- How to implement infection control practices to avoid patient infections
- How to perform inventory checks and order new or replacement equipment as needed
- Report damaged or defective equipment procedures
- Interpret and apply medical terminology and anatomical terms
- How to receive, decontaminate, clean, prepare, disinfect and sterilize reusable equipment
- Demonstrate the use of sterilization process monitors, including temperature and frequency of appropriate chemical indicators and bacterial spore test for all sterilizers
- Ability to identify and select appropriate instrumentation or equipment to meet the needs of the specialty
Job Outlook:
According to The Atlantic, the healthcare industry is the largest employer in the US. The requirement for sterile processing techs is projected to grow 10% to 14% between 2016 and 2026. Much of this comes down to a rapidly aging Baby Boomer generation. The growth of the entire industry – and the demand for medical instrument preppers – makes this a fantastic career option.