Inventory Specialist-Centralized Sterilization

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

The Inventory Specialist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Inventory Specialist under the direction of the Central Sterile Manager works both independently and in collaboration with the OR, SPD, and Vendor(s). This is a highly visible job and requires communication and follow-through by in-person (one on one meetings), phone and/or emails. This position requires daily flexibility with the ability to multitask, ensuring that assignments are completed in a timely basis.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and maintain accurate inventory levels including but not limited to instrumentation, special orders and office supplies.
• Utilize Censitrac inventory management system reports for missing instrumentation and conducting a physical inventory of tray verifying that list is accurate before ordering. Updates tray lists in Censitrac as needed.
• Collaborate with OR/SPD and Vendor teams to develop and execute a plan to reduce missing instrumentation from trays.
• Assist in financial modeling and forecasting for instrumentation inventory management.
• Responsible for receiving, unpacking, verifying all shipments received, and replenishing instrumentation into correct trays ensuring that missing instrumentation has been removed from Missing Instrument List in Censitrac.
• Conducts in-services to staff of new instrumentation as needed.
• Prepares excel spread sheet of instrumentation ordered specifying the reason ordered, what was ordered, quantity ordered and when received. Distributes list to team on a weekly basis.
• Communicates with the OR and SPD teams of any issues with back orders or obsolete instrumentation. Removing any such items from tray lists as necessary.
• Follows up on back orders and recommends substitutions or alternate instrument vendor, communicates ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) of instrumentation with the OR and SPD teams.
• Works with repair vendor and note instrumentation that is being sent out for repair and tags tray accordingly. Informs OR and SPD accordingly. Follows through with unrepairable instruments reorders if needed.
• Monitors and organizes the back-up instrumentation cabinets ensuring that par levels are attained on a daily/weekly basis.
• Assists in the return of extra instruments to their respective cabinets daily.
• Works with OR/SPD teams in streamlining trays to reduce unused instruments or combine instruments to reduce peel pack usage.
• Monitor and organize peel pack instruments ensuring par levels are met.
• Returns instruments mis-ordered ensuring proper credit issued.
• Based on the demand of the department will assist in tray assembly as needed
• Attending weekly CST Leadership Meeting to report out and keep team abreast of any instrumentation issues / concerns.
• Flexibility to perform responsibilities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Certification from Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) as a Central Registered Central Sterile Technician (CRCST) or from the Central Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) as a Central Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT)
• 3+ years’ experience in OR instrumentation
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Basic Computer Skills

Preferred:

• Knowledge of aseptic techniques and procedures, sterilization techniques and procedures, infection control and workflow principles and requirements, instrument and supply processing
• Demonstrates and exercises responsible judgment to provide necessary supplies and instruments for the patient care areas
• Previous Inventory Management Experience in a hospital setting

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.