Accreditation/Certification Information:

Currently there is no state or federal licensure requirement to gain employment as a sterile processing technician. While not a requirement for employment, certification is endorsed by the American Society of Hospital Central Supply Professionals (www.ashcsp.org), the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) (www.sterileprocessing.org), and the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) (www.iahcsmm.org). Students are eligible to take the exam (CSPDT—Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician) if they complete a Central Service/SPD Training Course with a passing grade of 70 percent or higher. However, certification requirements for taking and passing this examination are not controlled by AlliedIPS but outside agencies and are subject to change without notice. Therefore, AlliedIPS cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take this certification exam at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment. AlliedIPS is an authorized training center and issues out certificates of completion to students at the end of successful and complete training for the CBSPD board exam.

• Allied Institute of Professional Studies is approved to operate by the Private Business and Vocational Schools Division of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
• Allied Institute of Professional Studies is not accredited by a US Department of Education-recognized accrediting body.
  

Course Description

Central Service/Sterile Processing Department performs several essential functions to support medical and surgical care of patients. These functions vary with the size and sophistication of the facility. This course focuses on skills relating to sterile processing functions. Topics include, but are not limited to, decontamination; disinfection of equipment and surgical instruments; preparation and assembling of instruments and trays; sterilization of medical devices by several methods; sterile storage; and supply of inventory and distribution.

CST 100 - Roles and Responsibilities of the Sterile Processing Technician

In this course, the student will be introduced to the roles and responsibilities of the central supply and the surgical instrument processing technicians. The history of sterile processing, the governing agencies (both government and private) that regulate the profession, policies and procedures related to sterile processing, professional standards, functions, and workflow through the departments. Other topics include the processing requirements, communication, work ethics, and the ever-changing dynamic work environment as it relates to the sterile processing profession.

CST 101 - Anatomy and Physiology for Healthcare Professionals

In this course, the student will learn how important it is that sterile processing technicians have general knowledge of anatomy and physiology in the healthcare environment to enable CS/SPD professionals to better understand the policies and procedures developed for each job function that they perform. The study of cells, tissues, and systems; understanding of the skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, and reproductive systems.

CST 102 - Microbiology for Central Service

This course introduces students to microorganisms and their effect on living organisms and the relationship of microorganisms to our lives. The concepts of microbiology as they apply to sterile processing technicians function in the areas of cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing medical equipment, surgical instruments, and patient care equipment. Topics include the history of microbiology, naming, classification, and structure of bacteria, gram-positive organisms, gram-negative organisms, viruses, protozoa, fungi, prions, disease-causing agents, and transmission.

CST 103 - Decontamination of Medical Equipment, Instruments, and Trays

This course introduces the student to the basics and methods of cleaning and decontamination, selection and the use of detergents, various types of mechanical cleaning of instruments, and the process of manual cleaning of specialty devices. Types of disinfectants, their uses and application, water quality, temperatures, humidity, air exchange, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safety, and regulations (OSHA, EPA, FDA) governing decontamination and detergents.

CST 104 - Sterilization I

In this course students will learn how healthcare facilities can choose from a wide variety of sterilization methods, sterilization equipment, procedures, chemical and biological indicators, various process challenge device (PCD) testing, record keeping, logs, sterilization parameters, functions, concepts, maintenance, monitoring, controls and practices, and federal regulations affecting the use of various types of sterilization machines. Other topics include loading and unloading of the sterilizer and physical, chemical, and biological monitoring.

CST 105 - Sterilization II

In this course students will learn more about the two types of sterilization and how they are used and the types of instruments processed in each case.

High-Temperature Sterilization:
This course will introduce students to high-temperature sterilization and factors that impact the effectiveness of the high-temperature sterilization process. Topics include dry heat, steam, and radiation sterilization; the anatomy of a steam sterilizer; types of heat sterilizers; time; temperature; exposure period; exhaust; contact; and drying time. Loading and unloading, basins and basin sets, lumens, wet packs, and cleaning and maintenance of sterilizers.

Low-Temperature Sterilization
In this course, students will learn how all chemicals used in low temperatures to sterilize items have toxic properties and must be handled carefully, safely, and effectively. Students will learn the advantages and limitations of low-temperature sterilization. Topics include the eight (8) basic requirements of low-temperature sterilization methods, that is, ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide (gas plasma), and ozone sterilization methods and their parameters, time, temperature, humidity, and concentrations.

CST 106 - Preparations and Packaging of Instrumentation

This course introduces the student to the general guidelines to help students understand the performance of properly cleaned, lubricated, functional, complete, and sterile surgical instruments. The principles of packaging, processing, inspecting, testing of instruments and trays, packaging material selection, preparation, handling, and wrapping methods are among the topics to be covered in this section. Types of handheld instruments, structure, classification of surgical instruments, lubrication, insulated laparoscopic instruments, loaner instruments, flexible endoscopes, instrument marking, tracking, and paper-plastic pouches for packaging and loading.

CST 107 - Sterile Storage

This course introduces students to how the maintenance of sterile items is directly affected by packaging, materials, storage methods and conditions, handling practices, and methods of distribution. Topics include shelf life, improper and proper storage of sterile items, stacking, handling and inspection, environmental condition of sterile storage area, and stock rotation.

CST 108 - Inventory Control and Distribution

In this course students will learn how inventory distribution systems are designed, managed, and controlled to ensure efficient delivery of appropriate medical and surgical items and devices without compromise of function, cleanliness, and sterility of sterile items. Topics include receiving, requisitioning, and transporting of supplies; selecting and handling of inventory; supply distribution systems, including PAR levels, demand distribution, case cart distribution, and Just-In-Time; inventory control management; computerized systems of inventory control; and tracking systems.

CST 109 - Patient Care Equipment

In this course, the student will have the opportunity to learn how patient care equipment is used throughout the healthcare facility to provide essential services to aid in the recovery of a surgical patient or in-house patient. Topics include types of patient care equipment, PCA, SCD, infusion pumps, hypothermia machines, epidurals, processing procedures, cleaning, disinfection and disinfectants, reassembling, inspection and testing of equipment, quality control, storage, and distribution.

CST 110 - Medical Terminology

In this course, the student will learn how medical terminology will help them in their day-to-day work in relation to interacting with surgeons and physicians throughout the healthcare facility. The required topics include the elements of word formation and pronunciations, prefix, root, and suffix, work elements and sources, and combining vowels. This course will help the sterile processing technicians in their understanding of the functions of the instruments, selection, and preparation of case carts for surgery.

CST 111 - Regulations and Standards

This course introduces the student to the regulation and standards that impact their profession and the level of quality, safety, efficiency, and reliability of the products and services offered to patients. Topics include federal regulatory agencies, professional associations, medical device classification, medical device reporting, recall and recall procedure, labeling, and third-party preprocessors.

CST 112 - Infection Prevention Control

In this course, the student will have the opportunity to learn how critical infection prevention control matters in the sterile processing profession. It includes instrument preparation, processing, storage, and distribution of medical and surgical supplies. Topics include hand washing, use of personal protective equipment, standard precautions, OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards and compliance, workflow, traffic control and restrictions, work area cleaning, principles of asepsis, and asepsis techniques.

CST 113 - Complex Surgical Instruments

In this course, the student will learn how surgeons use sophisticated surgical equipment to diagnose, treat, and/or cure diseases with or without invasive surgical procedures. Topics include types of complex equipment and instruments, electric-powered equipment, pneumatic or air-powered equipment, gas-powered equipment, and cleaning, processing, and sterilization procedures. Basics of endoscopic instruments, regulations, and guidelines; infection control issues; automatic endoscope preprocessor (AER) per acetic acid; pre-cleaning; leak testing; and manual cleaning and drying techniques.

CST 114 - Sterile Processing Technician Externship

This course provides the opportunity for students to gain practical experience integrating the theoretical knowledge of the sterile processing technician program into real-world practice. Students will be supervised in a selected healthcare facility and will be evaluated by both qualified sterile processing personnel from the site and program faculty. The students will document procedures they observed and performed on a weekly basis. Students may also work at a selected healthcare facility to gain the 400 clock hours of experience required by the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) exams.