Sterile Processing course

Occupational Employment & Wages, May 2017

31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers 

Prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. May perform routine laboratory tasks and operate or inspect equipment.

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) 53

Employment 1.5%
 RSE (3)

Mean hourly $17.82
 wage

Mean annual $37,060

  wage (2)

Wage RSE (3) 0.4%

https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes319093.htm

Employment numbers

1. There are 50,550 instrument specialist technicians in the U.S., according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2. The size and type of facility, hospital, physician office, surgery center, etc., dictates the amount of people that work in the sterile processing department. Many facilities hire people based on surgical hours performed, according to Mr. Bilal. There could be one person in a sterile processing department or as many as 100 people.

3. The constant technological advancements in medical supplies/devices and instrumentation has led to a growing demand for highly trained central service technicians. According to the BLS, the job growth for instrument specialist technicians between 2012 and 2022 is at 20 percent.

Industries with the highest levels of employment of instrument specialist technicians:

· General medical and surgical hospitals — 35,100

· Outpatient care centers — 3,660

· Physician offices — 2,890

· Dentist offices — 2,380

States with the highest employment level of instrument specialist technicians:

· California — 6,540

· Florida — 4,580

· Texas — 3,100

· Ohio — 2,260

· New York — 2,230

Salary

The mean hourly wage for instrument specialist technicians is $16.28.

The mean annual wage for instrument specialist technicians is $33,850.

Duties

Tech Is likely perform basic duties such as delivering supplies and carts, while a Tech IV might have to put together more sets, handle biologicals or perform sterilization duties.

Sterile processing department staff play a large role in helping prevent healthcare-associated infections. Without proper decontamination, preparing and packaging and sterile instrumentation, patients could be at risk for HAIs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HAIs occurred in an estimated 722,000 patients in acute care hospitals, and caused 75,000 deaths in 2011.

Medical Equipment Preparers in California

May also be called: Central Processing Technicians (CPT); Central Service Technicians (CST); Central Sterile Supply (CSS) Technicians; Certified Registered Central Service Technicians (CRCST); Sterile Preparation Technicians; Sterile Processing and Distribution (SPD) Technicians; and Sterile Processing Technicians

Medical Equipment Preparers are essential to the medical field. They are responsible for sterilizing, stocking, and preparing various medical tools, supplies, and equipment in health care facilities, such as hospitals, dental offices, and outpatient care centers. They may prepare operating areas with the proper supplies and equipment. Since there are contagious infections and diseases present in health care facilities where Medical Equipment Preparers work, it is important that potential spreading of these be minimized. Preparers are crucial in preventing the spread of viruses and contamination of germs and bacteria. 

Annual Wages for California 2018

Low
 (25th percentile)    $36,434

Median
 (50th percentile)    $47,080

High
 (75th percentile)    $59,547

Skill Used in this Task

Operate and maintain   steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in loads, and   maintenance procedures performed.

Critical Thinking 

Organize and   assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized   supplies, filling special requests as needed.

Information Ordering

Examine equipment to   detect leaks, worn or loose parts, or other indications of disrepair.

Quality Control   Analysis

Record sterilizer   test results.

Written Expression

Start equipment and   observe gauges and equipment operation to detect malfunctions and to ensure   equipment is operating to prescribed standards.

Operation Monitoring

Report defective   equipment to appropriate supervisors or staff.

Problem Sensitivity 

Stock crash carts or   other medical supplies.

Customer and   Personal Service 

Purge wastes from   equipment by connecting equipment to water sources and flushing water through   systems.

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Check sterile   supplies to ensure that they are not outdated.

Near Vision 

Disinfect and   sterilize equipment such as respirators, hospital beds, or oxygen or dialysis   equipment, using sterilizers, aerators, or washers.

Manual Dexterity 

Clean instruments to   prepare them for sterilization.

Finger Dexterity

Estimated Employment   and Projected Growth
 Medical Equipment Preparers

Geographic Area         California
 (2016-2026)
 (Estimated Year-Projected Year)  

Estimated
 Employment  6,900 

Projected
 Employment 7,800

Numeric
 Change 900

Percent
 Change 13.0 

Job
 Openings  10,000

Certification is not required by all employers; however, many employers may prefer to hire prospective Medical Equipment Preparers who are certified as a sterile processing technician. In order to take the exam, individuals must provide verification of 6-12 months of employment in a sterile processing and distribution (SPD) related field, depending on the specific occupation and duties performed. One may also qualify for the exam by completing a Central Service/SPD training course with a passing grade. For more information, go to the U.S. Department of Labor's Career InfoNet Web site and scroll down to "Career Tools." Click on "Certification Finder" and follow the instructions to locate certification programs.

https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/OccGuides/detail.aspx?Soccode=319093&Geography=0601000000