Dental Sterilization Technician - Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc

Job Title: Dental Sterilization Technician

Reports To: Dental Assistant Supervisor

Job Summary: To assist in the sterilization and disinfection process and ensure that the sterilization process meets all professional standards and requirements. The technician performs and completes decontamination, cleaning, packing, sterilization, storage and distribution of submitted dental instruments and equipment. The technician will also assist the dental team in the disassembly and disinfection of dental operatories throughout the health center.

Qualifications and Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, and individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed and may be modified, interpreted and/or applied in any way as necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

Essential Job Duties:

• Perform sterilization, equipment maintenance and inventory control of dental instruments and supplies.
• Perform the technical duties for the decontamination and disinfection process, as well as sterilization, and distribution of supplies and equipment according to protocol, policies, and procedures, such as:
  • Processing, washing and sterilizing instruments from the dental operatories
  • Maintain an accurate and timely log of all sterilizers loads and verifying complete sterilization per manufacturer's instructions for use
  • Clean and prepare instruments and equipment according to the manufacturers' instructions for sterilization.
  • Inspect instruments and tray packs for damage or defects; verify proper function of instruments and tray completion prior to wrapping for sterilization.
  • Accurately mark instruments with current date and which sterilizer was used.
  • Sort and arrange items into proper trays according to established policies and procedures
  • Position items correctly in sterilizer and select proper sterilization cycle.
  • Sterilize instruments and equipment according to set standards using steam processing.
  • Correctly operate sterilizers, ultrasonic washer, and other equipment for processing items.
  • Perform monitoring of sterilizers according to policies and procedures.
• Assemble, wrap and sterilize trays of instruments in accordance with CCHCI cleaning and disinfecting of dental operatory procedure.
• Ensure CCHCI Dental enforces Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines
• Ensure CCHCI Dental enforces OSHA guidelines
• Ensure CCHCI Dental enforces Association for Dental Safety (formerly OSAP) guidelines
• Monitor and respond to biological, physical, and chemical indicators to ensure quality and consistency for sterilization of instruments and equipment.
• Maintain dental sterilization supplies inventory by anticipating and ordering needed supplies.
• Submit necessary equipment and maintenance tasks.
• Ensure adequate logbook entrees as necessary.
• Insure the proper disposal of all contaminated or potentially contaminated materials in accordance with Dental Department directive, center policy as well as state and federal regulation(s).
• Conduct routine safety testing of dental units including waterline testing. Complete equipment preventative maintenance requirements following manufacturer's instructions for use and maintain equipment inventory.
• Participate in quality control endeavors.

• Assists in Dental Operatory "Breakdown" to include Disinfection and Decontamination.
• Clean, stock and prepare dental operatory stations between patients.
• Comply with infection control policies and protocols.
• Stock supply carts as necessary
• Act as a liaison between dental front and back office.
• Assist with inventory control.
• Ensure operation of dental equipment by reporting equipment malfunctions and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Work extended hours as needed
• Working assigned weekends as needed.

Required Education, Experience, Certificates & Licenses:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification required.
• Fingerprint verification within three months in position.
• Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the necessary skill and sensitivity.
• Driver's License and Proof of Insurance may be required if requesting mileage reimbursement. For Float positions, mileage may not be paid.

Required Language Skills:

• Ability to comprehend and compose instructions, correspondence, and communications in English in both oral and written format.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish may be preferred based on current staffing patterns, patient population, and/or duty assignment.
• Ability to comprehend and understand dental terminology.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to frequently exert enough force to move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to frequently remain in a stationary position for up to two hours.
• Ability to constantly move about inside the workplace to assist patients, operate office or dental equipment, etc.
• Possesses hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to constantly operate computer, telephone, and other office machinery.
• Possesses close visual acuity necessary to accurately record and view information on a computer monitor, handwritten and typed documents.
• Ability to discern the nature of sounds at a normal spoken volume.
• Possesses range of body motion and ability to exert enough force to lift and move adult and pediatric patients.

Other Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to perform basic medical math that may include the use of ratio/proportion, dosage calculation, metric and household equivalents, roman numerals, abbreviations, and general math including percentages, etc.
• Ability to gather data in an organized fashion from varied sources.
• Ability to perform variety of assignments requiring independent judgment.
• Ability to resolve challenges and work under pressure.
• Knowledge of HIPAA rules and regulations.
• Computer literacy required.
• Knowledge of Electronic Health Records preferred.
• Familiarity with Electronic Dental Records and dental x-ray software preferred.

Work Environment & Conditions:

• Work environment is typical of a health clinic setting with occasional exposure to communicable diseases, bodily fluids and hazardous chemicals.
• Work frequently involves dental equipment and machinery with proximity to electrical current, and exposure to moving mechanical parts and some hazardous chemicals.
• Work requires reliable transportation as position requires occasional travel and extended hours to include early morning, evenings, holidays and weekends.
• If hired for a float position, position requires frequent travel to any dental center as needed.