Sterile processing technology has revolutionized the way hospitals and surgical centers control healthcare-associated infections. Sterile processing technicians use this technology to sterilize medical equipment and surgical instruments, which helps to minimize negative patient outcomes such as increased mortality rates, lengthy hospital stays, and health care costs. Medical Career Institute, based in Ocean Township, NJ, offers one of the leading sterile processing technology certificate programs in the United States. This medical tech school works to prepare graduates for success in this important health care profession.

Proper training is crucial when it comes to sterile processing. Everything from on-the-job training to a formal certification program contributes to keeping patients safe. Sterile processing technicians need to know how to sterilize instruments to keep them functioning properly, and the valuable role sterilization plays in keeping patients from suffering unnecessarily or even losing their lives from preventable infections.

Sterile processing technicians are part of a team effort to ensure proper sterilization techniques are followed in every department of today’s modern hospitals and surgical centers. Specific procedures ensure used medical instruments are decontaminated and sterilized so they can be grouped into appropriate sets and reused safely on new patients.

To help them perform their jobs efficiently, technicians operate sterile processing technology such as steam autoclaves and chemical and gas sterilizers. This ensures complete and total decontamination of all medical instruments. They also manage inventories, as well as working to ensure all items are accounted for and distributed as needed. They do this by keeping detailed records of items that have been cleaned, sterilized and stored to protect patient health.

To learn how to become a sterile processing technician, call Medical Career Institute at (732) 695-1190. You can also visit Medical Career Institute’s website for information on the different programs available, including medical billing and coding, diagnostic medical sonography and surgical technology.