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Committee hears bill to require certification for central sterile-processing technicians
Summary
House File 18 83 would require certification and continuing education for central sterile-processing (central service) technicians who clean and sterilize surgical instruments. Supporters said certification reduces infection risk; the committee laid the bill over.
Representative Gilman introduced House File 18 83 to require new central service (sterile-processing) technicians to be certified and to maintain annual continuing education credits. Proponents argued that sterile processing is a technical, patient-safety-critical profession and cited prior incidents where improper cleaning exposed patients.
Josephine Colacci of the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association and Matthew Thel, president of the Minnesota Sterile Processing Association and a program manager for high-level disinfection and sterilization, described the complexity of the work—sometimes hundreds of instruments per case and devices with manufacturer instructions that require many steps. They said six states already require certification for sterile-processing technicians and urged Minnesota to do the same to reduce infection risk.
Members who had visited hospital central service units described the scale and complexity of work. Several members spoke in support and the committee laid the bill over for possible omnibus inclusion.
Action taken: DE (author amendment) adopted earlier; bill laid over as amended for possible inclusion.
