Things about sterile services you didn’t know of!

The “Heart of the Hospital” is also referred to as Sterile Processing Technicians. The Sterile Processing Department is the location in a hospital or surgery center where surgical instruments and equipment used in medical and surgical procedures are cleaned and sterilized. This meaning is understandably not amusing; but, for those who call SPD “home,” it means so much more! A lot of countries like the USA have sterile processing technician schools.

Sterile Processing- Heart of Hospital’s Functioning

In almost all the modern healthcare frameworks, a wide diversity of technologically advanced medical equipment is being dealt with and taken care of by a group of individuals. Sterile processing is a division in the hospitals and healthcare centers responsible for the cleaning, inspection, and disinfection (sterilization) of devices used in medical procedures. This department is critical for the functioning of safe, clean, and healthy medical/ surgical procedures. The workers in this horizon are to be trained as this job demands precision, accuracy, technical know-how, and attention to minute details: it is indeed a skillful craft that influences the patient’s experience. In this article, you will explore the fascinating facts about the sterile service technician and details on a journey to become one.

Fascinating facts about sterile services

• Sterile Processing jobs or central sterile processing might seem to be a piece of cake, but indeed is a tedious team sport that requires stamina, precision, technical know-how, accuracy, and speed.
• Sterile Processing Department is a polyonymous term: Also known as Central Supply (CS), Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD), Sterile Processing Department (SPD), etc.
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 50,550 instrument specialist technicians (provide sterile services) in the U.S as of May 2020.
• Sterile processing departments in a healthcare facility can employ people anywhere between 1-100 depending on the facility, hospital structure, specialization division, etc.
• The rapid technological advancements in the medical industry have boosted the medical supplies/devices that have led to a massive demand for highly trained central service technicians. The job growth for instrument specialist technicians between 2012 and 2022 is at 20 percent, according to the BLS report, which is bound to increase post the COVID pandemic leading in courses like sterile processing technician training in Philadelphia to come in demand.
• The sterile services industry is one of the Industries with the highest levels of employment:
  • General medical and surgical hospitals — 35,100
  • Physician offices — 2,890
  • Dentist offices — 2,380
  • Outpatient care centers — 3,660
• States with the highest employment level:
  • California — 6,540
  • Florida — 4,580
  • Texas — 3,100
  • Ohio — 2,260
  • New York — 2,230
• The sterile processing technician salary in the USA has an average hourly wage of $16.28.
• The annual mean wage for instrument specialist technicians is $33,850, these technicians are in high demand in Philadelphia.
• The subjects that sterile processing technicians are equipped with is broad as it covers:
  • Sterilization methods
  • Infection control
  • Human anatomy
  • Medical Instrumentation
  • Microbiology
  • Surgical terminology
  • Surgical instrumentation
  • Safety and risk control
• The staff of the Sterile processing department is crucial in helping prevent healthcare-associated infections. Performing their duties negligently might lead the patients at risk for HAIs. HAIs occurred in an estimated 722,000 patients in acute care hospitals according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Training for the central sterile technicians in the sterile processing department often includes a clinical practicum.
• One year of certified training like sterile processing technician certificate program in pa or sterile processing technician schools in the USA is a must for all individuals who are new to a sterile processing department.

After the completion of Technical Training in Sterile Processing/Central Service Technician Program and 400-hour externship, an individual is eligible to apply for various certifications and opt for the varied horizon in the healthcare field.

Sterile Processing Technician: Impact during Covid-19 & Career Outlook

The onset of COVID-19 has led to an increase in the healthcare workforce to ~20% and is expected to increase manifold. COVID has opened the peoples’ and nation’s eyes to improve the quality of healthcare and associated workforce. Sterile professionals are considered as the heart in the smooth functioning of the medical industry. There is certainly a strong urge and significant emphasis on maintaining overall and personal hygiene, adopting safe protocols for significant protection, and technical and general awareness of the surroundings to combat the spread and transmission of diseases.

Future Prospects

If you are interested in being a part of the healthcare industry, highly meticulous and detail-oriented person, and passionate about contributing to millions of lives being at the backdrop of the industry, providing assistance, and rendering mission-critical services: sterile processing technician training can be the first step towards it. A sterile processing technician certificate program in the USA is crucial for those in the United States, attaining the required knowledge and will equip you with hands-on experience in  Disinfection of Surgical instruments, sterilization, preparation, and transport inventory management, Infection Prevention, Tools for cleaning, Decontamination, etc.

One of the finest Sterile processing schools in Philadelphia is Philadelphia Technician Training Institute. It not only trains you to be a proficient worker but also assists in Job Application Skills like resume writing, communication skills, and support through interviewing processes and provides great career services to enable the students to land desired roles/jobs.

The scope of sterile processing technician jobs in the USA or any other country for that matter has experienced massive growth and is predicted to grow exponentially. It is a certainly beneficial option for students venturing out in the professional world and also a great career for individuals with an interest and inclination towards the medical industry. Over and above Sterile processing is a well-paying, demanding career in the healthcare industry.

Conclusion

The reprocessing cycle requires that an instrument be sterile and safe to use. Various types of test packs may be used to track sterility assurance, depending on the type of sterilization procedure used or the parameters being tested. A passing biological and chemical indicator test verifies that the sterilization cycle’s basic criteria were met.