Sara Michelle Gagliardo
Summary
Conscientious professional in healthcare support, known for high productivity and efficiency in task completion. Specialize in sterilization techniques, equipment maintenance, and inventory management with keen attention to safety protocols. Excel through strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize tasks effectively, and excellent communication with team members.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Medical Supply Technician
Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center
05.2023 - Current
- Transport and receive contaminated critical and semi-critical RME including instrument sets and endoscopes in decontamination area
- Disassembled RME and determined correct cleaning method per SOP and manufacturer instructions, ensuring compliance with safety standards.
- Operate decontamination equipment including ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers, and high level disinfecting reprocessors (Medivators)
- Assemble instrument sets and RME and prepare for sterilization.
- Utilized surgery schedule to prepare all necessary sets for surgeries and clinics, ensuring availability of sterile instruments.
- Operate, test, and maintain equipment involved in sterilization and high-level disinfection processes
- Prepare operating room case carts including checks of disposable supplies.
- Prepare and deliver endoscopes and sterile RME to clinic areas.
- Conducted inservices for SPS staff, enhancing knowledge and adherence to sterilization protocols.
Medical Supply Technician
SPS Dallas VA
Dallas, TX
09.2016 - 05.2023
- Specialized in endoscope processing for GI, Broncoscopy, ENT, and Imaging departments
- Maintained workflow in decontamination, preparation, case cart, sterile storage, and satellite scope processing areas by prioritizing tasks.
- Properly operate steam and V-pro sterilizers and monitor proper operation and function of steam sterilization, VPRO sterilization, and high level disinfection equipment via gages, logs, equipment monitors and printed records.
- Utilize pick tickets and Operating Room daily schedule to determine which instrument sets to pull for each patient's case cart.
- Conducted quality assurance checks on case carts, ensuring all sets and disposable supplies were accurately pulled and ready for use.
- Perform rounds to check all areas of SPS and Operating Rooms.
- Ensure there is at least 48 hours to process loaners before they are needed for case.
- Request permission from supervisors if loaners are needed sooner than 48 hours.
- Ensure there is a primary and back-up loaner set for each case.
- Reprocess flexible endoscopes by leak testing, manual cleaning using correct size for each channel, and channel check to make sure no bioburden remains inside channels.
- Determine if endoscope should be high level disinfected or sterilized.
- Operate high level disinfection equipment including Medivators, Trophons, and Endo Dryers.
- Ensure Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC) of rapicide or cidex using correct test strip.
- Complete high level disinfection documentation on logs and in Censitrac, and document correct type of tag (event related or time related) for each item that has been high level disinfected.
- Pull and reprocess endoscopes with channels that have not been used within 12 days.
Volunteer and Onsite Supervisor
Happy Tails Animal Rescue
Murchison, TX
01.2013 - 03.2013
- Supported veterinarians in surgical procedures for dogs, ensuring animal safety and care.
- Provided daily care for approximately 100 animals at the shelter.
Inpatient Pharmacy Technician
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Seattle, WA
04.2005 - 12.2007
- Prepared IV bags and compounds in sterile hood, adhering to universal precautions to ensure patient safety.
- Delivered patient medications and managed Pyxis medicine storage supply machines for nursing stations across all floors.
- Prepared and dispensed medications for inpatient units efficiently.
- Managed medication inventory using automated pharmacy systems effectively.
- Collaborated with healthcare teams to ensure safe medication management.
Nuclear Mechanical Operator, Instructor, and Maintenance Supervisor
U.S. Navy
03.1998 - 05.2003
- Operated and maintained mechanical systems of steam propulsion and reactor equipment, ensuring reliability of turbines, generators, pumps, and distilling units.
- Supervised maintenance and operation of Main Machinery Department, ensuring compliance with safety and operational standards.
- Provided training on mechanical operations at nuclear training prototype facility, enhancing proficiency of personnel in complex nuclear systems.
Education
Bachelor's of Science - Business and HR Management
New School University
New YorkSkills
- Logical reasoning
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Ability to work under high stress
- Communication skills
- Computer proficiency
- People skills
- Detail-oriented
- Familiarity with surgical instruments and equipment
- Reprocessing surgical instruments
- Expertise in processing flexible endoscopes
- Assistance in Censitrac
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
Timeline
Medical Supply Technician
Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center
05.2023 - Current
Medical Supply Technician
SPS Dallas VA
09.2016 - 05.2023
Volunteer and Onsite Supervisor
Happy Tails Animal Rescue
01.2013 - 03.2013
Inpatient Pharmacy Technician
Virginia Mason Medical Center
04.2005 - 12.2007
Nuclear Mechanical Operator, Instructor, and Maintenance Supervisor
U.S. Navy
03.1998 - 05.2003
Bachelor's of Science - Business and HR Management
New School University