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About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States and is the number one hospital in North Carolina, according to U.S. News and World Report for 2023-2024. Duke University Hospital is the largest of Duke Health's three hospitals and features 1048 patient beds, 65 operating rooms, as well as comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

General Description of the Job Class

Responsible for providing daily oversight of the operations for assigned Sterile Processing units. In collaboration with the SPD Leadership, develops and activates annual departmental strategic and operational plans. Actively leads performance improvement, quality, and patient safety initiates associated with high level disinfection, sterilization, and instrumentation transport to ensure risk of environmental cross- contamination is minimized and health of staff is safeguarded. Serves as an expert on sterilization processes and systems. Assures compliance with policies and procedures and all regulatory and accrediting agencies.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level

Supervises Sterile Processing staff ensuring maximum productivity and effectiveness to include staffing and evaluating work performance. Implements, monitors, and improves the department workflow to optimize safe patient outcomes.
Monitors activities on a 24 hour/7 day week basis to ensure adequate work flow and to allow for rapid adjustments as indicated.
Ensures staff is oriented, trained, and appropriately credentialed to meet competencies established within the department and hospital mandatory requirements.
Supervises all decontamination and sterilization processing producing results in conformance with departmental goals and objectives and regulatory compliance.
Ensures timeliness of instrumentation turnover, coordinates with OR with regard to instrument replacement, functionality and set completeness.
Ensures all SPD patient care equipment and distribution equipment is properly maintained; ensures that all department processing equipment is operating as required.
Monitors and ensures daily operational compliance with the standards governing sterile processing activities. Identifies emerging trends in sterile processing to achieve better outcomes. Works with SPD Educator to coordinate and monitor staff training program. Ensures all staff is knowledgeable as to applicable standards, procedures and safety requirements.
Keeps current with trends and advances in methods of sterile processing by attending training sessions or professional forums and/or reading health care literature.
Participates in development and/or revision of department operating policies and procedures; responsible for keeping departmental policies current to satisfy hospital and regulatory agency requirements.
Coordinates preparation of budgetary recommendations of assigned units, monitors, verifies and reconciles expenditures of budgeted funds.
Hires, coaches, trains, and implements corrective action as necessary. Provides development and mentoring opportunities for staff.
Develops relationships with physicians, nurses, and other department customers to enable conversations around service, safety and financial issues.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education

Associate's degree in a related healthcare field required.
Bachelor's degree in related healthcare field preferred.

Experience

Five years' experience in a sterile processing or similar setting, including at least 2 years in a supervisory capacity.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

Current certification as a Sterile Processing Technician through an accredited organization (CRCST - Certified Registered Central Service Tech, HSPA, or Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician CBSPD) required.
Certification as CHL - HSPA; Certification in Health Care Leadership preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of AAMI standards, Association of Professional Infection Control (APIC), and Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN).
Ability to problem solves department issues and maintains clinical practices.
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
Able to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
Competent in leadership for designated scope of responsibility.
Ability to remain calm under stressful situations.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.