From Pixar to the O.R.

When Amy DeGraw was interviewing for a job as a computer animator with Pixar Animation Studios, little did she ever suspect that she would find herself spearheading the Central Service Technician program, a new technical diploma at Blackhawk Technical College. A glimpse into what her life would become in a world of impossible deadlines, forced creativity, and 18-hour days led her to step away from what she always thought was her dream career to pursue a different craft.

“I heard about an opening in a local sterile processing department,” Amy explained. “I knew what the job entailed because my dad was an operating room nurse. As soon as I walked into the department for my interview, I was hooked.”

Amy has now worked in Central Services/Sterile Processing for over 18 years. She started as a technician with zero experience and learned everything on the job. She worked her way up the career ladder to be a supervisor and is now a sterile processing educator for a local health care system. Currently, she is also the Central Service Technician (CST) lead instructor at Blackhawk Tech.

Central Service Technicians are the key persons responsible for maintaining the quality of medical products that are processed, packaged, and sterilized by a medical facility. These technicians clean, sterilize, and assemble surgical instruments, equipment, and supplies for use in operating rooms and other medical and surgical facilities. In addition to working in a hospital setting, CSTs can work in surgical centers, dental clinics, vet clinics, take travel assignments, work for healthcare vendors and suppliers, or teach.

Central Service has gained momentum in the past few years. Industry standards and advancing technologies in the surgical service field has brought CS into the spotlight. According to Amy, “Healthcare facilities are relying on CS departments and the techs who work in them to carry out detailed, precision reprocessing of surgical instruments. More often, healthcare facilities are looking for experienced techs, which are hard to find.”

Students who enter the Blackhawk CST program can expect to gain the essential skills and knowledge to get them started in any Central Service department. Amy’s goal is always “to teach the why behind what we do, not just the how.” After completing this program, students can advance into the Central Service Clinic Practice course where they get hands-on experience in the hospital setting and work toward the ability to sit for four different certifications.

Amy currently holds two certifications through the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM) - Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) and Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) – and has spoken at the industry’s annual conference. Her passion for students and this lesser-known healthcare career continue to drive Amy’s desire to grow and help students do the same.

Registration is now open for the CST program. For more information about CST visit the program webpage.

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