INSTRUMENT STERILIZATION ATTENDANT PENN DENTAL MED at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Job Description:

Duties: Penn Dental Medicine is on a mission to provide the highest quality clinical and research environment for students while shaping the future of care. Join Penn Dental Medicine to live that mission every day by supporting the non-clinical needs of your clinic's patients, students, faculty, and community. With PDM, not only can you maximize your career potential at an Ivy League institution, but you can make a real difference in the lives of your patients and students.


Instrument Sterilization Attendants (IMS staff) will be required to decontaminate clean, identify and assemble the entire range of dental instruments used throughout the Penn Dental Medicine clinics. Individual must be able to select the correct method of sterilization of instruments. Issue/collect instrument supplies and laboratory equipment utilizing scanning equipment. Candidate will be required to learn how to operate the various types of sterilization equipment utilized by the department. Additional responsibilities include delivery and inventory of equipment to and from the various clinics in PDM. Cross-train and rotate to work in instrument dispensing areas of assigned dental clinics. Cross-train in the Levy Research building to perform duties/tasks as required for sterilization of glassware and specified waste of the research labs. Perform additional tasks as needed associated with those assigned clinics as directed by the clinic manager. May be required to work occasional weekends and/or overtime as needed for preparation of student licensing exams (CDCA).


Competencies for the IMS Role:


Accountability: Takes responsibility for all work activities and personal actions; follows through on commitments; implements decisions that have been agreed upon; maintains confidentiality with sensitive information; acknowledges and learns from mistakes without blaming others; recognizes the impact of one's behavior on others.


Adaptability: Responds to changing circumstances by being innovative and altering behavior to better fit different situations; consistently exhibits optimism and energy; learns new skills, performs work in different ways; successfully works with new colleagues; professionally deals with personal discomfort in a changing work environment; willing to be flexible; remains calm in stressful situations. Demonstrates tolerance for uncertainty
Demonstrates adaptability through adopting a plan, behavior or approach


Clear Communication: Expresses oneself clearly and effectively when speaking and/or writing to individuals or groups; listens attentively; ensures that information is understood by all parties; shares information in a timely manner using the most appropriate method; presents well-organized information in a group setting. Maintains a constructive, open dialogue with others and speaks with candor. Presentation Skills: engages audience by presenting well-organized material in an understandable format. Speaks persuasively and in a convincing manner. Proofreads documents to ensure proper language usage.


Service Orientation: Acts professionally and calmly at all times when interacting with others; consistently demonstrates concern and courtesy towards colleagues and customers; treats all people respectfully; takes personal responsibility for correcting problems; follows up with individuals to ensure satisfaction with the level of service they have received.
Works well with members of the University community (e.g., students, faculty, staff). Remains calm in stressful situations. Demonstrates pleasant disposition that puts people at ease.


Inspect instrument cassettes after processing decontamination cycle replacing any missing or damaged instruments. Accurately identify cassette type & various instruments. Ensure instrument cassettes are complete before wrapping, labeling & sterilizing in autoclaves. Perform all tasks in handpiece room. Accurately identify full range of instruments utilized at PDM clinics. Act professionally & calmly at all times when interacting with others; consistently demonstrate concern & courtesy.


Decontaminate & sterilize instruments utilized in PDM clinics for patient treatment. Operate all decontamination & sterilization equipment utilized by IMS Department in an accurate & safe manner adhering to all sterilization & infection control standards. Work well with members of the PDM community (e.g., students, faculty, staff). Remain calm in stressful situations. Demonstrates pleasant disposition that puts people at ease. Work collegially with others, cooperating in team relationships;


Process student appointment instrument orders. Run daily instrument request reports for each clinic session. File instrument requests from daily clinic session reports, Accurately scan requested instruments, bundling requested instruments & loading carts for delivery of instrument requests to be loaded into student assigned instrument lockers prior to start of each clinic session. Demonstrate willingness to be flexible in a changing work environment;; remain calm in stressful situations.


Takes responsibility for all work activities & personal actions; implements decisions that have been agreed upon; maintains confidentiality with sensitive info.; acknowledge & learn from mistakes without blaming others; recognize the impact of one's behavior on others. Perform tasks associated with the sterilization room in the Levy Research Building. Clean, disinfect & sterilize glassware used in the research labs as well as sterilize specific waste product(s) prior to disposal of that waste.


Demonstrate tolerance for uncertainty & adaptability through adopting a plan, behavior or approach. Work collaboratively on specialty clinic rotations to specialty clinics on a monthly rotation schedule. Support & report to clinic dispensing window to dispense/collect various instruments & materials utilized in those clinics. Demonstrate knowledge & competency in sterilization of instruments used in those clinics. Assist in additional tasks by Clinic Manager of assigned clinic during rotation(s)


Deliver student instrument requests to student assigned instrument lockers for patient appointments. Ensure accurate & precise delivery of instrument requests & correctly place instruments into student lockers prior to the beginning of each clinic. Deliver, restock & inventory instruments in various PDM clinic dispensing areas. Pick up, collect & inventory instruments/equipment from various PDM clinic collection windows for sterilization prior to redistribution to clinics or student requests.


Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications: An Associate's Degree or two year college equivalent and 0 to 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Dental or medical background preferred. Must be able to push or pull up to 150 lbs. and lift up to 100 lbs. Must be able to follow detailed oral and written instructions. Be able to multi-task between responsibilities, to accurately complete assigned task in a fast-paced working environment. Required to work during preparations for ADEX exam held during the academic year. Occasional weekend and/or overtime work required. Comply with all sterilization, decontamination and operating procedures to support a clean, safe and quality-driven environment focused on student learning and support of Penn Dental Medicine's clinical, research & teaching mission.

Reference Number: 51-30848

Salary Grade: 023

Employment Type: Non-Exempt

Org: Instrument Management Service

Special Requirements: Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

Job Family: 6-Technical Scientific/Statistical