Sterile Processing Director at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center

Roberta Harbison

Reusable medical device reprocessors are amongst a group of healthcare workers that are underappreciated. The unsung heroes work behind the scenes laboriously tomeet the demands of their customers. Patients who are receiving procedures place their faith and trust in their healthcare provider’sability to deliver safe quality results. Without the provider’s support team, this could not be achieved. Most of the public is unaware of a community within the healthcare industry that requires specialized skills and training. The roles and responsibilities performed by this community, directly impacts the patient results. These “miracle workers” need more spotlightand recognition for the amazing work they do every day.

The team of backstage caregiversface strenuous and high-tension challenges. After all, performing surgery, various types of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures creates a high stressed environment. As a result, many eager, motivated, and potentially excellent workers fall to the waste side. The low morale, lack of recognition, harsh labor processes, and poor salaries create an industry concern for filling gaps to meet the demand. Without skilled, experienced and knowledgeable medical device reprocessors, healthcare systems would not be able to provide superior care to their patients.

It is baffling to think that medical device reprocessors are grossly under paid for the services they provide. Across the country, the heath care systems do not require a higher level of education for their employeesdespite the complexity of work that is involved. A medical device reprocessor is responsible for various tasks that involve retrieving soiled and used medical devices, cleaning, disinfecting, inspecting, packaging, high level disinfecting or sterilizing the devices to be used on other patients. There are enormous safety risks associated with poor performance and unqualified staff. Additional tasks include reading, verifying, and interpreting equipment test results, biological monitoring, understanding infection prevention safety protocols (microbiology), medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, management of consumable supplies used in procedures and the ability to understand the purpose and functionality of all the equipment used. Medical device reprocessors have an ethical responsibility to always act in the best interests of dignity, reputation, and good standing within the profession.

According to the Bureau of labor statics (2020), the average salary for a medical device reprocessor is $41,070 per year ($19.75 per hour) nationwide. The top five highest paid salaries are, Alaska, California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. These five states are just above $50,000 per year, however, have higher cost of living expenses. Functioning as a small manufacturing plant, the medical device technician salaries average around the same rates as cashiers, delivery drivers, retailfloor staff and restaurant workforces today. The past couple of years, there has been a shortage of qualified medical device reprocessing technicians. Manufacturing companies not associated with healthcare are raising the bar by offering higher starting wages, sign on bonuses and better incentives. Unfortunately, the medical device reprocessing industry has not moved fast enough to compete. Economic inflation and lack of skilled technicians is a growing concern for the healthcare industry.

"Without skilled, experienced and knowledgeable medical device reprocessors, healthcare systems would not be able to provide superior care to their patients."

To date, there are just four states that require higher level education and certification; New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. This means that the employees as a minimum requirement must be able to complete an accredited medical device course and pass a national certification exam. The benefit to hiring certified reprocessing technicians addresses many of the issues and concerns within this field. First, people must feel a level of accomplishment and achievement. Testing ones knowledge base and skillset naturally lifts the level of expectation and drive to be more successful in their field of expertise. Happier employees work harder and produce more especially when they feel they have mastered their skills.

Skilled professionals improves the organizational workflow and promotes a performance based culture. Certification provides a more professional image for the business. When employees can write their credentials next to their names, it creates a more trust worthy image and shows visual recognition of the accomplishment. Most importantly, certified staff reduces risk and builds confidence in the team’s ability to perform with a strong competitive advantage. Neglecting the importance for higher education as a means to continue underpaying medical device reprocessing technicians is a grave mistake and presents risks for poor quality and low performance practices.

Higher level education should not be limited to frontline workers. Departmental leaders should also become certified as a technician and a healthcare leader within the organization. Employees rely on their leaders for direct guidance, support and direction, therefore, if the leader’s credentials do not correlate with the reprocessing profession, the department is subjected to employee retention challenges, lower morale, inferior skillsets, and reduced productivity as well as various patient safety concerns caused by poorly managed departments. Healthcare industries cannot afford the liability risks and litigation costs associated with hospital acquired infections due to incompetent medical device reprocessing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average cost for hospital acquired infections is $28.4 billion per year and about $12.4 billion a year in loss of productivity and early deaths. Medical device reprocessing is not an industry that can be overlooked, ignored or bypassed.

There are great rewards to becoming a medical device reprocessing technician. Especially when working for an organization that expects a higher level patient care, excellent performance measures, and does not ignore or avoid the critical role of medical device reprocessing technicians. There are healthcare facilities that do an excellent job with supporting this field; there needs to be more. Medical device reprocessing technicians are valuable members of the patient care team. The need to empower and encourage individuals looking for a career in healthcare essential and device reprocessing should be considered.The medical device reprocessing fieldprovides many stimulating challenges. The level of skills necessary to perform in excellence justifies the higher wages desperately needed in this industry throughout the country. These heroes deserve our recognition and thanks for all they do.