Central Supply Assistant
The Florida course of surgical technology program has 3 completion points. Students
who successfully complete the first 90 hours designated as core healthcare
information qualify to receive at their request a Basic Health Care Worker
Certificate; students who successfully complete the first 300 hours of the
course qualify to receive at their request a Central Supply Assistant
certificate; students who successfully complete the entire 1330 hour Surgical
Technology program are eligible to sit for the national certification
examination as a surgical technologist.
A central supply assistant can work in sterile supply areas where
instruments, supplies, and medical equipment are processed, sterilized or
disinfected, and distributed. Average salary range is $18,000 to $24,000
per year. Many students work in sterile supply areas and instrument rooms
of surgical departments while completing school as a surgical technologist.
Central Service Technician Program
The 500 hour course is designed to prepare students to sit for the national
certification. Prerequisite classes and the general education components
of the program are offered in August of each year with the core classes offered
in the January of each year. Qualifies the student for a certificate as a
central supply assistant who works in instrument rooms and processes
instrumentation, supplies, and equipment.
Central Services
Technician is excellent for those who want to begin a career ladder or need Part-time evening course
completion - This course is available for young graduates, for those working
on their GED, or those needing part time educational
opportunities since it is offered from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Thursday with additional clinical experience arranged to meet your schedule.
The required general education courses can also be taken online or
evening/weekend time frames including medical
terminology and an approved anatomy and physiology course. Course completion can
be accomplished in 2 semesters and provides an employment opportunity for those
seeking short time work while continuing school, as a career step ladder to
other opportunities, or as a full-time professional career.
A central supply technician can work in sterile supply areas where
instruments, supplies, and medical equipment are processed, sterilized or
disinfected, and distributed. They can become mangers of central supply
departments, work with stock rooms and inventory as store clerks and managers,
work with decontamination and processing areas for endoscopy procedures, and
manage the storage of those supplies, equipment and instruments.
More About Central Service
The central service department of a
health care facility is the hub of all activity
surrounding supplies and equipment needed for
surgery, obstetrics and other patient care
areas. Central service technicians assume an
important role in patient care by preventing
infections.
As a central service technician, you
will provide vital support in all patient care
services and be responsible for knowing all of
the tools used in an operating room, as well as
sterilizing and packaging instruments used
during surgery. You will also decontaminate,
clean, process, assemble, store and distribute
medical devices and supplies, and keep records
associated with sterilization monitors, orders,
charges to patients and inventory.
Career Opportunities
Central service is an emerging occupation and
will expand as health-care becomes more
specialized.
Employment of central service technicians is
expected to grow faster than the average for all
occupations through the year 2010 as the volume
of surgery increases. The number of surgical
procedures is expected to rise as the population
grows and ages. Technological advances, such as
fiber optics, laser technology, robotics and
interventional radiology will also introduce new
surgical procedures and equipment.
Hospitals will continue as the primary
employer of central service technicians,
although some employment growth is expected in
offices and clinics of physicians, including
ambulatory surgical centers, as well as nursing
homes and assisted living facilities.
With additional training, some technicians
advance to senior central service technicians,
who provide technical and functional supervision
to other central service personnel.
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Professional Titles: Central Service
Aide or Assistant; Central Service
Technician; Central Service Manager;
Stock room Aide, Stock Room Assistant,
Inventory Specialist |
Central Supply/Central Sterile Supply
(CS/CSS) or Sterile Processing
Department (SPD) |
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Earnings Potential
Median annual earnings of central service technicians
in 2006 were $30,568. Salaries ranged from $24,450 to $36,604.
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Professional Organizations: Visit the
following Web sites to learn more about the
rewards of the central service technician
profession:
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