This bill establishes requirements for central service technicians working in health care facilities in Minnesota.

Key provisions include:

1. Definitions:

   • A central service technician is a person responsible for decontaminating, inspecting, assembling, packaging, and sterilizing reusable medical instruments or devices in a health care facility.
   • A health care facility refers to hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.
   • A health care practitioner includes professionals licensed under relevant Minnesota statutes, such as doctors, dentists, and surgeons.

2. Certification Requirements:

   • Central service technicians must pass a nationally accredited exam and hold credentials from a recognized credentialing organization, such as Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST), Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER), Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT), or Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor (CFER).
   • Exceptions apply to those employed as central service technicians before December 31, 2027.
   • Newly hired technicians without certification must obtain it within 18 months of hire.

3. Continuing Education:

   • Certified central service technicians must complete ten hours of continuing education annually related to their job functions.

4. Exemptions:

   • Health care practitioners, individuals with other relevant certifications, and students or interns performing technician functions under supervision are not required to meet central service technician certification requirements.

5. Employment Verification:

   • Health care facilities must provide written verification of employment or contract periods upon the technician’s request.

This bill ensures standardization and regulation in sterilization and medical instrument reprocessing, aiming to enhance patient safety in Minnesota health care facilities.