title: Developing a central sterile surgical instrument technician program.
abstract: Many hospitals report high vacancy rates in their central sterile processing departments related to the lack of a workforce that is knowledgeable about instrument processing and medical terminology. Creating an education course that focused on the knowledge and skills necessary for success in this vocation provided a solution to this problem for one facility. Outcomes included a dramatic decrease in the number of vacancies in the central sterile processing department and an increase in community awareness of employment options available in perioperative services.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, USA.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Sallie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dunphy
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bullock
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000407:Alabama; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D002495:Central Supply, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D040541:Marketing; D010560:Personnel Selection; D016730:Program Development; D013242:Sterilization; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D000078329:Workforce