Leslie Walter
Chicago,ILLINOIS
Summary
Detail-oriented Sterile Processing Technician with 27 years of experience in steam sterilization and decontaminating surgical instruments. Proven ability to maintain sterile environments and enhance patient safety through meticulous practices. Known for exceptional attention to detail and problem-solving skills, contributing to improved compliance with regulatory guidelines.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Sterile Processing Technician
Lurie Children's Hospital
06.1998 - Current
- Operated sterilization equipment to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
- Managed instrument inventory, ensuring availability for surgical procedures.
- Conducted regular inspections of sterile storage areas to maintain cleanliness and organization.
- Trained new staff on sterilization processes and best practices for infection control.
- Collaborated with surgical teams to address specific instrument needs during procedures.
- Monitored sterilization cycles, verifying accuracy of parameters and documentation.
- Participated in quality assurance audits to uphold hospital policies and regulatory requirements.
- Wrapped trays, instrument packs, and sets.
- Supported surgical teams effectively by preparing instrument trays according to procedure requirements.
- Reduced risk of infections by maintaining a clean and sterile environment within the processing area.
- Enhanced patient safety by ensuring proper sterilization and packaging of medical equipment.
- Assessed instruments, equipment, and containers to promote cleanliness and proper functioning.
- Decontaminated surgical instruments to remove bacteria and other contaminants before sterilization.
- Ensured timely availability of surgical instruments by prioritizing urgent requests and efficiently managing workload.
- Inspected sterile package integrity prior to distribution.
- Tested sterilization equipment by performing regular checks and maintenance to keep instruments in working order.
- Verified and maintained proper documents and records for sterilization.
- Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills when troubleshooting issues with autoclaves or other sterilization equipment.
- Corrected instrument sets according to current standards and established count sheets and instrument tracking systems.
- Maintained clean and organized sterile processing areas to prevent contamination of instruments and equipment.
- Recorded biologicals and test results.
- Operated specialized equipment using steam, gas and chemical methods to sterilize equipment.
- Ensured strict adherence to regulatory guidelines during decontamination processes, mitigating risks associated with improper handling of biohazardous materials.
- Handled and disposed of sharps, biohazards and other hazardous materials in accordance with established protocols.
- Achieved high levels of accuracy in record-keeping, logging important data related to sterilization cycles and equipment usage.
Education
High School Diploma -
Richards Vocational High Scchool
Chicago, ILSkills
- Steam sterilization
- Decontaminating surgical instruments
- Decontamination procedures
- High-level disinfection
- Recording biologicals
- Equipment testing
Timeline
Sterile Processing Technician
Lurie Children's Hospital
06.1998 - Current
High School Diploma -
Richards Vocational High Scchool