LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - When you think of everything that happens in a hospital - of course that comes with staff using all kinds of instruments and equipment. But often we don't think about what happens with those tools after our check ups and procedures.
That's where sterile processing comes in. At Mercy Health St. Rita's, a staff of sterile processing technicians handles many of the medical supplies used by hospital staff every day.
"We receive everything from surgery, doctor's offices, off-sites - instrumentation wise, devices, things like that," said Candice Check. "They come to us dirty, and we clean them, inspect them, make sure everything is in proper working order, put them back together in their sets or packages, sterilize them, and then get them back to where they need to go."
Department supervisor Candice Check says that she initially started at another facility in 2008 before making her way to St. Rita's in 2021. She says that the work she and her staff does is vital to make sure that the hospital runs smoothly day to day.
"I like to say it's very crucial; if it wasn't for us, surgeries wouldn't be wouldn't be happening," said Check. "We have to make sure everything is working, properly cleaned, properly sterilized and ready for use. I do love the work. It is interesting work, important work."
She adds that this job is a good option to work at a hospital but in a different way than a more "traditional" position.
"It's definitely a great option in healthcare if you don't so much want to deal with the actual patient, so to speak - of course, we affect patient care because of what we do, but you're not doing one-on-one patient care and things like that," said Check. "It is a nice way to feel like you're doing something in healthcare."
To become a sterile processing technician, Check says a person would have to earn certification. Locally, Rhodes State College offers a sterile processing technician program. More information can be found on their website.
