Services & Support Professionals

Sterile Processing and Distribution -- The keeper of all things sterile

An essential support service for any hospital-based surgical facility is the department responsible for cleaning, processing, sterilizing, storing and distributing supplies and equipment. At Central Maine Medical Center, this department is called Sterile Processing and Distribution (SPD).

A core task of the SPD technician is the proper cleaning and care of instruments and equipment. Since healthcare facilities have a large financial investment in medical instrumentation and devices, it’s important that these items be well maintained. Meeting this responsibility requires technicians to learn countless details regarding the care of a large variety of items.  

SPD technicians at CMMC must understand medical terminology, know the names and functions of all the instruments used in the operating room, and pass a national certification exam. An understanding of anatomy and physiology, the mechanisms of disease transmission and infection control, and the principles of disinfection and sterilization are essential knowledge for SPD technicians.