Program: Central Service Technician - Community College of Baltimore County

Program Description

Central Service Technicians (also called Sterile Processors) decontaminate, disinfect, package, sterilize and distribute surgical instruments, equipment and soft good products. This is a critical support role in surgical areas.

Program Outcomes

Successful Completion:

CCBC Credential:

Students will earn a CCBC Workforce Training Certificate and will have access to a Continuing Education academic record (transcript).

External Credential:

The Central Service Technician Training Series is designed to meet the requirements of the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materials Management (IAHCSMM). Students will be prepared to take the national certification exam to become a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST). Exam cost is included in program cost.

Certifying Organization:

International Association of Health Care Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM)

www.iahcsmm.org

Financial Aid and Payment Options

Baltimore County College Promise
Continuing Education Opportunity Grant
Partial Payment Option (through Nelnet Business Solutions)
Tuition Waiver for those who qualify
Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship
Employer/Sponsor Paid Tuition
Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
Local Office of Workforce Development
Students may apply for a career training scholarship through Central Scholarship (http://www.central-scholarship.org/)

Program Length

6-15 months; 2-3 cohorts offered each year

Program Requirements

Orientation Session - Mandatory:

Students are encouraged to attend an information session prior to the first day of class. Please contact Nancy Laubach for orientation dates and additional information at nlaubach@ccbcmd.edu or 443-840-1819.

Requirements:

A High School Diploma or GED is NOT required for program entry but may be required for employment. All students must be computer literate and have Internet access.

Students must have the following paperwork turned in to the coordinator PRIOR to beginning the clinical portion of the program:

Negative PPD (six months) or negative chest x-ray less than one year old
Positive titer or proof of vaccination/immunity for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella
Current Flu vaccination
Hepatitis B vaccination or declination form
Tetanus shot (less than ten years)
Copy of health insurance card
Clinical eligibility partly dependent on a criminal background check and random urine drug testing. Cost of testing is the responsibility of the student.

Application Process

To apply, go to www.ccbcmd.edu/apply and complete the CCBC Non-Credit Workforce Training Certificate application. An email will then be sent with program information and any additional requirements necessary to apply for the program.

Open Entry – No screening or documentation required.

Recommended Program Course Sequence

CPR and First Aid classes REQUIRE 100% attendance. Students arriving late to class will not be admitted. Late arrival to or early exit from class will also result in a failing grade and no refund. Students will then be required to retake the class at their expense.

2020 CE Academic Catalog - Central Service Technician

Course Number	Course Title	Course Hours	Costs T=Tuition/F=Fees	Textbook Information (approximate cost; subject to change)
AHE 534 Or AHE 124	Medical Terminology for Health Occupations Medical Terminology for Health Occupations ONLINE	30 30	$329 T-$147/F-$182	Book is required. Please contact the program area for more details. Price is approximately $65.99
AHE 805	CPR for Health Care Providers	7	$109 T-$52/F-$57	Provided on the first day of class and included in course costs.
AHL 045	Central Service Technician Classroom	72	$769 T-$405/F-$364	Included in course cost; provided first 115day of class
AHL 046	Central Service Technician Clinical I	100	$329 T-$214/F-$115	None
AHL 047	Central Service Technician Clinical II	100	$329 T-$214/F-$115	None
AHL 048	Central Service Technician Clinical III	100	$220 T-$104/F-$116	None
AHL 049	Central Service Technician Clinical IV	100	$110 T-$60/F-$50	None
Program Series Total:		509	$2195 T-$1196/F-$999	$65.99*

All courses must be finished for successful completion

Additional Information

Additional Expenses:
Students may need to purchase scrubs for clinical placement. Cost of medical exam and vaccinations/titers required for clinical placement can vary widely depending on provider and insurance. These possible additional expenses could range from $50 - $500.

Course Substitutions:
Medical Terminology AHE 534 or AHE 124 can be substituted with OFAD 141, or ALHL 115, or AHL 717

Skills for Success:
See Technical Standards at end of document.

Career Opportunities:
Students may have the opportunity to move into a position that is more material/inventory related, teach, or become supervisors in central processing departments. Membership in the International Association of Healthcare Central Services Material Management (IACSHMM) is recommended.

Career Coach

Research your career interests, explore live job postings, take a career assessment, discover which companies in the Baltimore region are hiring, and more. View a brief tutorial video on how to use Career Coach at: https://youtu.be/C7KpznbPYfA . Explore career and training opportunities at: https://ccbcmd.emsicareercoach.com/.

Program Contact Information

Technical Standards

Technical Standards for CCBC’s Central Service Technician Training Series
The primary goal of The Community College of Baltimore County’s Central Service Technician Training Series is to adequately prepare students for an entry-level position in the sterile processing department functioning as a central service technician. The duties of a CS Technician require the ability to stand or sit for long hours while constantly being focused on the task at hand. They need to exercise safe practices while exposed to unpleasant sights, odors, materials, and communicable diseases. Their duties also require them to be detail oriented and to work accurately and quickly. A high level of manual dexterity, psychomotor skills, and integrity are vital.

Central Service Technicians (CSTs) are responsible for processing surgical supplies and equipment. CSTs provide support to patient care services in a health care facility. Their tasks include decontaminating, cleaning, processing, assembling, sterilizing, storing, and distributing medical devices and supplies.

Following is a partial listing of the types of skills typically required for adequate job performance:

Physical Requirements:
A. Sufficient strength and mobility to:

Lift or otherwise maneuver large instrument trays weighing up to 30 pounds
Stand or sit in one area for long periods of time
Work quickly to meet deadlines and/or production requirements

B. Fine motor coordination sufficient to perform precise tasks such as:

Handle delicate surgical instruments
Safely handle sharp instruments
Handle instruments and equipment that may be costly to replace if damaged
Perform basic repairs to instrumentation
Clean and assemble instrumentation

C. Adequate vision to:

Read and interpret digital or paper displays on machinery
Adequate distinction of colors to read and interpret sterilization indicators
Read instruction sheets and computer screens

D. Sufficient hearing to:

Hear and understand verbal instructions in person and over the telephone under noisy conditions from masked personnel
Hear alarms and operating noises of equipment

Interpersonal Skills and Professionalism:
A. Have the ability to:

Work in a professional manner under sometimes extremely stressful situations
Pay close attention to detail and recordkeeping
Commitment to learning and understanding new technologies, instrumentation, and procedures
Commitment to following approved standards, guidelines, policies, and procedures
Interact in a professional manner with many personalities and attitudes and with people from many different backgrounds
Respect and protect patient rights and confidentiality without regard to personal beliefs and judgments
Maintain proper certifications required to perform the duties of the profession
Accurately utilize all resource material available to remain current in the profession, including attending departmental in-service training
Maintain a surgical conscience/professional morality in the application of infection control techniques
Willingness to precept (train) others
Commitment to working shifts as assigned, which may include on-call, holidays, and weekends

B. Sufficient communication skills to:

Give and receive accurate written and verbal instructions
Carry out all written and verbal instructions
Follow proper channels of communication
Communicate in a calm and professional manner
Communicate clearly and effectively to any team members regarding issues that may be difficult to address (i.e. problem with machinery that could affect sterilization; admission of own errors, etc.)

Intellectual Ability and Emotional Stability To:

Ability to apply critical thinking and problem solving skills
Exercise independent judgment to properly perform tasks at hand
Accurately utilize all resource material available to perform the task at hand
Work calmly and efficiently in a fast-paced, stressful environment
Maintain calm during emergency situations
Perform duties while exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials
Accept feedback from others in an open and positive way
Learn from mistakes

Environment Requirements:

The central service technician profession involves risks and/or discomforts that require special safety precautions including, but not limited to:
Wearing gowns, caps, masks, gloves, and eye protection
Working in an environment that is often noisy
Working in an environment that exposes one to potentially hazardous materials, such as cleaning agents and chemicals and blood-borne pathogens
Providing proof of recent immunizations against infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella
Receiving Hepatitis B vaccine and annual testing for exposure to tuberculosis
Submitting to periodic drug screening