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How exposed to AI is a Medical Equipment Preparer?

Of the 16 tasks O*NET lists for medical equipment preparers, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 15 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Central Processing Technician (CPT)Central Service Technician (CST)Central Sterile Supply Technician (CSS Technician)Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST)Instrument TechnicianSterile Preparation TechnicianSterile Processing and Distribution Technician (SPD Tech)Sterile Processing Technician (Sterile Processing Tech)Sterile TechnicianSterilization Technician
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
16
tasks rated for this occupation
17%
hold a degree, from a survey of 28
61k
people do this job in the US
18 of 19
least protected in healthcare support

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Only with software built on top

1
  • Record sterilizer test results

Cannot be sped up

15
  • Operate and maintain steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in loads, and maintenance procedures performed
  • Clean instruments to prepare them for sterilization
  • Organize and assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies, filling special requests as needed
  • Examine equipment to detect leaks, worn or loose parts, or other indications of disrepair
  • Report defective equipment to appropriate supervisors or staff
  • Maintain records of inventory or equipment usage and order medical instruments or supplies when inventory is low
  • Stock crash carts or other medical supplies
  • Start equipment and observe gauges and equipment operation to detect malfunctions and to ensure equipment is operating to prescribed standards
  • Check sterile supplies to ensure that they are not outdated
  • Attend hospital in-service programs related to areas of work specialization
  • Disinfect and sterilize equipment, such as respirators, hospital beds, or oxygen or dialysis equipment, using sterilizers, aerators, or washers
  • Purge wastes from equipment by connecting equipment to water sources and flushing water through systems
  • Deliver equipment to specified hospital locations or to patients' residences
  • Install and set up medical equipment, using hand tools
  • Assist hospital staff with patient care duties, such as providing transportation or setting up traction
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.