Director Central Processing & Clinical Sterilization Support

Work Shift

Day/Evening

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Summary

This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care by providing support to customers, physicians, and staff of Mercy Medical Center. The Director, Central Processing & Clinical Sterilization Support will assure the coordination, integration, facilitation, and provision of cost-effective sterilization processes resulting in high quality patient care, consistent with the strategic priorities and mission of Mercy Medical Center.

Job Description

Job Duties/Essential Functions

• Leadership Competencies
  • Leading
    • Formulates a future course that reflects departmental needs and is aligned with Mercy's vision. Translates the course into team goals and objectives, sets priorities, and directs the efforts of staff towards accomplishing them.
    • Recognizes and acts on opportunities for growth and improvement to advance Mercy's goals.
    • Inspires staff enthusiasm for and generates commitment to departmental and organizational goals.
    • Contributes to organizational policies and procedures regarding sterilization and reprocessing.

• Standards and Accountability
  • Holds team and self responsible for maintaining the highest possible performance standards and meeting agreed upon commitments.
  • Sets and maintains high standards for service to patients, physicians, colleagues, and other Mercy departments. Incorporates needs and concerns of diverse constituencies into decision making.

• Planning and Decision Making
  • Analyzes problems systematically and logically and is resourceful when developing and implementing solutions.
  • Applies key financial concepts and analysis to decision making. Understands drivers of financial performance and takes these into account when developing strategies and making decisions.
  • Develops and implements work plans with actionable components and measurable outcomes. Proactively monitors key performance indicators and makes real-time adjustments to ensure that progress stays on track.
  • Regularly reassesses priorities and competing demands and adjusts allocation of own and staff time and resources to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

• Communication
  • Articulates logical and well-founded arguments that support conclusions. Matches communication style to the message and audience. Actively solicits opinions from others. Routinely provides others with the information they need to do their jobs.
  • Routinely shares suggestions, advice, and insights on progress toward goals. Provides performance feedback that is constructive and actionable, and that highlights successes as well as areas for growth based on objective metrics.
  • Coordinates with multiple departments to ensure appropriate reprocessing and sterilization processes and standards are being met.

• Developing People
  • Selects and attracts outstanding staff from diverse backgrounds. Identifies and fills gaps in team skills and knowledge.
  • Defines development objectives for self and staff that support performance goals and progress toward future skill development. Assists staff in developing their own careers by encouraging them to articulate their career goals, offering challenging growth opportunities, and providing necessary coaching and training.
  • Works in coordination with Supervisor, Central Sterile to organize in-services, education, and departmental meetings.

• Managing Relationships
  • Builds and maintains long-term relationships with others both within the department and within the organization, based on mutual respect and trust. Fosters cooperation and collaborative decision-making among staff with diverse backgrounds and interests. When conflict arises, works effectively towards solutions and compromises that take the needs of all parties into account.
  • Provides regular updates on goal progress and works with own manager to minimize risks and resolve problems.

• Job Duties
  • Ensure that accurate and clinically relevant information is communicated with supported departments, infection prevention and co-workers as needed.
  • Take all measures necessary to ensure that the appropriate and involved parties have communicated necessary information in order to allow for the best possible patient outcome
  • Ensures high quality and safe patient care using evidence-based practice, performance improvement, and service excellence.
  • Identifies quality improvement opportunities based on quality metrics.
  • Manages internal and external customer complaints in a timely and caring manner.
  • Implements strategies to assure physician satisfaction.
  • Conducts regular staff meetings.
  • Develops and/or maintains accurate job descriptions and performance standards for all job classifications within the department.
  • Develops and utilizes a formal plan to recognize outstanding individuals or teams in their department.
  • Implements key initiatives and demonstrates performance improvement within the department.
  • Provides for mechanisms to measure, analyze and manage variation in the performance of defined processes.
  • Practices cost containment efforts on a shift to shift basis by efficient use of time and resources, i.e., man-hours, equipment, supplies.
  • Prepares or provides input to preliminary Capital, FTE and Operating budgets for department/unit by due date.
  • Leads and/or participates in department, service line and/or organization-wide problem-solving, re-design or new program projects or performance improvement teams, committees and councils.
  • Fosters interdisciplinary, collaborative relationships within the service and the institution as a whole.
  • Assists and supports Central Sterile staff member in obtaining certification and continuing education
  • Manages the inventory of instruments and surgical/procedural trays.
  • Oversee hospital wide high level disinfection and instrument cleaning and transport processes.
  • Supervises the Central Sterile team which includes assisting in selecting and training new staff, completing Performance Evaluations, disciplinary issues and leading by example.
  • Oversees all Mercy, Mercy ASC, and MPS Clinic sterilization processes, education, inventory, biological monitoring, and development of policies related to sterilization.
  • Oversees outside non- Mercy facilities sterilization processes, education, inventory, biological monitoring, and development of policies related to sterilization.
  • Assists in all hospital, clinic, and ASC regulatory surveys and maintaining their compliance with sterilization related topics.
  • Assists in developing and maintaining business website.
  • Quarterly, and as needed, on-site inspection of clinics.
  • Maintains current Instructions for Use (IFUs) for all facilities and departments.
  • Inspection of instruments and replaces/ repairs for all facilities and departments.
  • Identifies risk and/or potential problems and appropriately corrects or connects with key resources to solve the issues.
  • Manages all scope and their preventive maintenance, competencies, and repairs.
  • Participates in Infection Prevention tracers that are related to Central Sterile or their functions. 
    Serve as a resource to departments prior to purchases to ensure sterilization parameters can be met with our current practices, equipment, or materials.
• Follows Mercy's safety guidelines, carries out job- specific safety duties and responsibilities, and promptly reports any unsafe conditions, situations, incidents and injuries.

Department Specific Duties

• N/A

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates effective leadership skills (i.e. coaching, counseling, prioritization, decision making and conflict management).
• Utilizes effective coordination, collaboration, and facilitative skills.
• Fosters a culture of accountability, creative and critical thinking, and staff development.
• Possesses skill in staffing, financial management, project management, forecasting, staff development and change management.
• Maintains a positive, professional demeanor in emotionally charged situations and serves as a role model for staff.
• Committed to ongoing self-development and learning.
• Role Models exemplary customer service skills including verbal, non-verbal skills and proper phone etiquette.
• Creates a welcoming environment for all healthcare team members.
• Must understand multiple types of sterilizations used for clinics.
• Must understand multiple regulatory standards used at clinics. 
• Knowledge of aseptic transfer and gram stain testing.
• Strong customer service skills to sell the business.

Professional Experience

• Three years clinical experience required.
• Two years supervisory experience required.

Education

• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Licensure, Certification, Registration

• Four certifications from Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) and/or Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) within 18 months of transfer or hire required.
• Must have valid driver's license, proof of insurance and use of own vehicle to visit sites.

Physical Requirements

Heavy: Exert 50-100 lbs. of force occasionally and/or 25-50 lbs. of force frequently

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Mercy is an independent, community-based organization supporting the Cedar Rapids area for over 120 years.

Mercy is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and therefore evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.