Central Service Instrument Technician (CSIT)

The Central Service Instrument Technician program at Glendale Career College is a career-focused program that teaches technical skills and provides the hands-on training required to begin working in hospitals, surgery centers, medical facilities and private practices where surgeries are performed.

The Central Service Instrument Technician (CSIT) program will prepare students to acquire the knowledge, skills, abilities and experience needed to function as a central service instrument technician. This program is designed to introduce the varied processes and procedures utilized in the central service department of a hospital. This program will prepare the student to function effectively in providing patient care and ensuring the safety of to the patient. Students will work on developing skills in instrumentation, chemical disinfection, sterilization, decontamination, quality assurance, and inventory control. Job-related skills will be acquired through a balance of program lecture, demonstration, discussion, and laboratory work in clinical site activities. Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate will be eligible to take the CRCST certification exam through the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM).

A graduate of the Central Service Instrument Technician program may be employed as a Central Sterile Supply Technician, Sterile Processing Technician, Certified Registered Central Service Technician, Sterile Preparation Technician, Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician, Medical Supply Technician, Sterile Technician, Materiel Reprocessing Technician, and Surgical Equipment Technician upon successfully passing the IAHCSMM Certification exam. This person may be employed in the Central Processing department of a hospital or surgical centers.

The program is divided into class course modules including two clinical externship where students will apply the skills they learn in the classroom in actual health care practice settings.

Courses for this program include:

• Seminar for Success – Orientation and success building course for Career Students. Review of basic math, language, vocabulary, and writing skills. Introduction to core career classes, availability of community resources, outlining, summarizing, managing credit, and other life skills. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is required to complete the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may take the form of homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.

• Medical Terminology – Medical terminology is the professional language utilized in the field of medicine. It is the introductory course to all the allied health related programs. This course will provide the students with the basic skills to communicate in the medical language. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is required to complete the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may take the form of homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.

• Anatomy & Physiology – The Anatomy & Physiology course will be an introduction to the complicated world of the human body. Students will receive lectures on organization of the body, cell theory, tissues, glands, membranes and the integumentary, skeletal, and muscular systems. Students will receive lectures on blood, heart, blood vessels, lymphatic, nervous, sensory, endocrine, respiratory, urinary, digestive, and the reproductive systems. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is required to complete the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may take the form of homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.

• Microbiology – In this course, students will be introduced to the principles of microbiology and the study of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi, with emphasis on the nature and the characteristics of microbes and their transmission in the environment. In addition, the fundamentals of Standard (Universal) Precautions and OSHA regulations are stressed. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is required to complete the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may take the form of homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.

• Aseptic Technique – The principles of asepsis and infection control measures are stressed during this course in order to ensure a safe working environment. During this course, the fundamentals of Standard (Universal) Precautions and OSHA regulations continue to be addressed with an emphasis on reducing the risk of transmitting infectious agents to patients. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is required to complete the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may take the form of homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.

• Sterilization & Disinfection – This course will provide the student the opportunity to develop the skills needed to work in the central processing department of a hospital or a medical facility. Students will develop skills in decontamination and disinfection as well as high-and-low-temperature sterilization methods, materiel management, and wrapping and storage of supplies. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is required to complete the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may take the form of homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.

• Instrumentation – In this course, students will learn and be able to identify and name basic surgical instruments, their application and use as well as caring for and maintaining them. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is required to complete the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may take the form of homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.

• Distribution – In this course, students will learn and be able to apply basic concepts in inventory control and distribution of surgical and medical supplies throughout a hospital or medical facility. Storage and space utilization skills will be emphasized as well as hospital requisitions and case cart distribution systems. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is required to complete the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may take the form of homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.

• Quality Assurance, Risk Management, CPR – In this course, students will learn the Fundamentals of Basic Life Support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) according to the guidelines of The American Heart Association (AHA). Students will progress in their area of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), work simplification, special handling, record keeping, and the Six Sigma concepts in quality assurance. Students will also learn inventory management, human relations skills and professional development. Prior to clinical experience, students will receive Job Preparation training designed to assist the student in entering the workforce. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is required to complete the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may take the form of homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.

• Clinical Experience I – The first week of Clinical consists of introductory hands-on experience through the central service and sterile processing departments of a hospital or outpatient facility. The student will be expected to observe and perform the basic duties of a central service instrument technician under the supervision of a facility staff member, preceptor or clinical educator.

• Clinical Experience II – Clinical consists of a 9-week hands-on experience through the central service and sterile processing departments of a hospital or outpatient facility. The student will be expected to perform the duties of a central service instrument technician under the supervision of a facility staff member, preceptor or clinical educator.