Melissa Carlson
UCHealth
Denver,CO
2
Certifications
8
years of professional experience
Sterile Processing Lead Technician with Certified Registered Central Service Technician credentials and experience supporting decontamination, sterilization, and OR case flow. Coordinates workflow, coaches team members, and monitors quality metrics and sterilization records to keep instruments accurate, ready, and available. Assists with supply ordering and resolves complex processing issues through hands-on problem solving.
Work History
Sterile Processing Lead Technician
1 Month- Track multiple staff productivity metrics weekly to monitor performance trends and support coaching discussions.
- Support development and evaluation of departmental policies and procedures to strengthen consistency and compliance.
- Coach team members through daily mentoring, feedback, and performance evaluation to reinforce productivity and quality expectations.
- Coordinate assignments and workflow to promote timely service, situational judgment, and effective problem solving.
- Assist with ordering supplies and tracking inventory to support steady department operations and reduce shortages.
- Guide team members through complex or novel issues while modeling teamwork, cooperation, and calm decision-making.
Sterile Processing Technician II and Preceptor
3 Years 3 Months- Precept [number] students and new hires weekly on decontamination protocols, tray handling, and sterile processing standards.
- Decontaminate surgical instruments according to protocol, following established handling steps to support safe processing.
- Inspect mechanical washers regularly and troubleshoot performance issues to maintain reliable cleaning operations.
- Operate sterilization equipment and verify cycle parameters meet requirements before releasing instruments for use.
- Coordinate sterile supply logistics for the OR by anticipating needs from the surgical schedule and reporting shortages to leadership.
- Inspect surgical instruments for cleanliness, damage, and defects, then assemble trays to count sheet specifications.
Sterile Processing Shift Supervisor
1 Year 11 Months- Led daily huddles and shift reports to align technicians on priorities, throughput, and coverage changes.
- Reviewed the daily surgical schedule to forecast instrument needs and confirm availability before procedures.
- Coordinated urgent instrument requests across department teams to expedite turnaround and reduce service delays.
- Communicated trends, incidents, and concerns to OR leadership, supporting timely issue resolution and escalation.
- Provided precepting and hands-on guidance to new technicians on decontamination procedures and tray assembly.
Sterile Processing Technician II
3 Years 1 Month- Inspected surgical instruments for cleanliness, damage, and defects before assembly and sterilization.
- Assembled instrument trays to count sheet specifications and prepared sets for sterilization.
- Coordinated sterile supply logistics within the operating room and anticipated needs from the surgical schedule.
- Maintained sterilization records accurately and corrected discrepancies to support traceability and audit readiness.
- Communicated supply shortages and equipment issues to leadership to keep workflow moving smoothly.
Education
Associate of Science
- Relevant coursework includes:
- Inorganic Chemistry I and II
- Organic Chemistry I and II
- CIS-Microsoft Office
- Communication/Public Speaking
High School Diploma
Skills
Decontamination procedures
Instrument inspection
Sterilization monitoring
Tray assembly
Sterile supply logistics
Quality management
Staff precepting
Workflow coordination
Policy development
Microsoft Office
Certification
Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST)
Personal Information
Driving License: Colorado Driver's License
Timeline
Sterile Processing Lead Technician
UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
10.2026 - CurrentRead More
Sterile Processing Technician II and Preceptor
UCHealth
08.2023 - CurrentRead More
Sterile Processing Shift Supervisor
Boone Health
09.2021 - 08.2023Read More
Sterile Processing Technician II
Boone Hospital Center
08.2018 - 09.2021Read More
Dugway High School
High School Diploma
Read More
Utah Tech University
Associate of Science
Read More