148.781 CENTRAL SERVICE TECHNICIAN.

508 words·~2 min read·/mn/chapter-148/148-781

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Subdivision 1. Application.

This section applies to persons who perform the functions of a central service technician in a health care facility.

Subd. 2. Definitions.

For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given:

(1)"central service technician" means a person who decontaminates, inspects, assembles, packages, and sterilizes reusable medical instruments or devices used by a health care facility;

(2)"health care facility" means a hospital or ambulatory surgical center; and

(3)"health care practitioner" means an individual regulated by a health-related licensing board as defined in section 214.01, subdivision 2 , or by the commissioner of health under sections 148.511 to 148.5198 , to the extent the individual provides services in a health care facility and the tasks of a central service technician are within the individual's scope of practice. Health care practitioner includes an intern, resident, or fellow who performs or assists with surgery.

Subd. 3. Requirements for central service technician.

(a)A health care facility shall employ or otherwise retain the services of a central service technician only if the central service technician:

(1)has successfully passed a nationally accredited examination for central service technicians and holds and maintains one of the following credentials administered by a nationally accredited central service technician credentialing organization: a certified registered central service technician credential, a certified endoscope reprocessor credential, a certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential, or a certified flexible endoscope reprocessor credential; or

(2)provides evidence that the person was employed by or was retained as a central service technician by a health care facility on or before December 31, 2027.

(b)A central service technician who does not meet the requirements of paragraph (a), clause (1), shall have 24 months from the date of hire to obtain a certified registered central service technician credential, a certified endoscope reprocessor credential, a certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential, or a certified flexible endoscope reprocessor credential.

(c)A person who qualifies to operate as a central service technician in a health care facility under paragraph

(a)must annually complete ten hours of continuing education credits to remain qualified to operate as a central service technician. The continuing education required under this paragraph must be related to the functions of a central service technician.

(d)Nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit the following persons from performing the tasks or functions of a central service technician:

(1)a health care practitioner;

(2)a person who holds or maintains a registration, certification, or license by a nationally accredited credentialing organization to perform health care services; or

(3)a student or intern performing the functions of a central service technician under the direct supervision of a health care practitioner as part of the student's or intern's training or internship.

(e)A health care facility shall, upon the written request of a central service technician, verify in writing the central service technician's dates of employment or the contract period during which the central service technician provided services to the health care facility.