Section 68-11-239 - Central service technician(a) As used in this section:(1) "Central service department" means a department within a healthcare facility that processes, issues, and controls medical supplies, devices and equipment, both sterile and nonsterile, for patient care areas of a healthcare institution;(2) "Central service technician" means a person who decontaminates, inspects, assembles, packages, and sterilizes reusable medical instruments or devices in a healthcare institution, whether such person is employed by the healthcare institution or provides services pursuant to a contract with the healthcare institution;(3) "Healthcare institution" means an ambulatory surgical treatment center or a hospital, as those facilities are defined in § 68-11-201; and(4) "Healthcare provider" means a person that provides healthcare services and is registered, certified, or licensed in accordance with title 63 and is under the division of health-related boards.(b) Unless otherwise permitted pursuant to this section, a person shall not practice as a central service technician unless the person: (1)(A) Has successfully passed a nationally accredited central service exam for central service technicians and holds and maintains: (i) A certified registered central service technician credential; or(ii) A certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential; or(B) Was employed or otherwise contracted for services as a central service technician by a healthcare institution before January 1, 2017; or(2) Obtains a certified registered central service technician credential or a certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential no later than two (2) years after the person's date of hire or contracting for services with a healthcare institution.(c) A person who qualifies to practice as a central service technician in a healthcare institution under subsection (b) shall complete a minimum of ten (10) hours of continuing education annually. The continuing education shall be in areas related to the functions of a central service technician.(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the following persons from performing the tasks or functions of a central service technician:(1) A healthcare provider operating within the scope of practice for that provider established pursuant to title 63;(2) A surgical technologist operating within the scope of practice established by § 68-57-105;(3) A diagnostic medical sonographer while performing the duties of a sonographer;(4) A student or intern performing the functions of a central service technician under the direct supervision of a person authorized under subdivision (d)(1) or (d)(2) as part of the student's or intern's training or internship; or(5) A person who does not work in a central service department in a healthcare institution, but who has been specially trained and determined competent, based on standards set by a healthcare institution's infection prevention or control committee, acting in consultation with a central service technician certified in accordance with subsection (b), to decontaminate or sterilize reusable medical equipment, instruments, or devices, in a manner that meets applicable manufacturer's instructions and standards.(e) A healthcare institution shall retain a list of persons determined to be competent under subdivision (d)(5). The list shall include job titles for such persons. A person determined to be competent pursuant to subdivision (d)(5) shall annually complete a minimum of ten (10) hours of continuing education in areas related to infection control and the decontamination and sterilization of reusable medical equipment, instruments and devices.(f)(1) For any person practicing as a central service technician at a healthcare institution pursuant to subdivision (b)(1)(A), the healthcare institution shall maintain documentation that the person meets all requirements of subdivision (b)(1)(A).(2) For any person practicing as a central service technician at a healthcare institution pursuant to subdivision (b)(1)(B), the healthcare institution shall maintain documentation of the dates for which the person was employed or otherwise contracted for services as a central services technician in the healthcare institution to verify that the person meets all requirements of subdivision (b)(1)(B).(g) Any healthcare institution that employs or contracts with a central service technician shall submit to the health facilities commission, upon request, including, but not limited to, during an inspection performed pursuant to this part, documentation demonstrating that the central service technician complies with the requirements of this section.Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1119, s 67, eff. 7/1/2022.Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 840, s 1, eff. 4/19/2022.Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 178, s 5, eff. 4/24/2017.Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 178, Secs.s 1, s 2, s 3, s 4 eff. 4/24/2017.Added by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1004, s 1, eff. 1/1/2017.