Surgical Technologist

Job Description: Salary: Urgent need for a full-time Surgical Technologist. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30am - 4:30pm for Clinic; 6:45am - 3:45pm when assigned to the OR; 1 hour unpaid lunch period Very limited On-Call and Call-Back Core Duties: Set up clean field as necessary for specific colorectal procedures. Equipment set up, support, and take down for emergency procedures is performed wherever required within the MTF, including but not limited to the OR, ER, and ICU.• Maintains neat, orderly, and safe work area and practices economy in the use of all sterile supplies• Be knowledgeable about professional and practice issues related to the field of colorectal procedures• Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient and staff by complying with facility requirements and safety standards• Assists the physician and RN during diagnostic, therapeutic, and emergency procedures to include: GI bleeds, foreign body removals, and cholangitis.• Cleans colorectal area and helps to clean procedure and clinic room following colorectal procedures, properly disposes of contaminated supplies and equipment. Disposes of biohazardous waste per infection control guidelines• Performs high level disinfection (HLD) of endoscopes in the instrument processing area such as washing, assembling and sterilizing instruments and ensuring they are functional. Stores instruments and supplies, monitors dated packs and supplies to ensure sterility• Can properly utilize the endoscopic re-processor. Follows manufacturer’s IFUs and works in compliance with TJC requirements• Knows how to test the high level disinfectant for efficacy and can document the test results. Follows manufacturer’s IFUs and works in compliance with TJC requirements• Brushes and rinses scopes after procedure• Knows how to leak test scope for every procedure• Can transport scope following procedure from procedure room to disinfection area in accordance to TJC requirements• Responsible for the care, identification, and labeling of specimens and the delivery of specimens to pathology• Screens and checks-in patients; escorts and transports patients to treatment areas safely using wheelchairs, gurneys, and other mean. Obtains, monitors, and records physiological measurements as required• Utilizes safety measures, masks, gloves, etc.• Prepares procedure rooms and preoperative bays, excluding medications• Ability to communicate effectively with physicians, nurses, and other staff members• Works cooperatively with co-workers, students, and with all patient contact. Provides care within ethical and legal boundaries.• Keeps accurate inventories of supplies• Knows how to operate all equipment in the Procedure Room/OR.• Assists with patient recovery following procedures, including assistance in identifying and managing post-procedural complications• Attends and performs all required CBTs, department trainings, and maintains knowledge of safety procedures within the facility. Completes orientation, competency verification, and educational programs in accordance with facility and unit specific guidelines• Participates in committees, functions, and other meetings as directed. Provides relevant and timely information to these groups if asked• Assists with process improvement initiativesParticipates in customer service initiatives, quality projects, and medical readiness activities, designed to enhance health services• Maintains or assists with health record input, storage, and retrieval• Transports patients, and related records to and from the OR and recovery room.• Assists nursing staff with preoperative patient preparation activities.• Helps with routing medical materiel management activities.• Accomplishes routine safety checks and operator preventive maintenance on fixed and moveable medical equipment and fixtures.• Performs routine and specialized housekeeping activities. Prepares OR for surgery by setting up and opening sterile supplies and instruments. Performs full spectrum of sterile techniques, setting up surgical trays, preparing and draping patients for surgery, and assisting with post-operative dressings. Ensures surgical packs are cleaned and packed for sterilization after every procedure, to include restocking surgical supplies. Maintains a clean and safe environment for the patient by actively participating in the cleaning of clinical spaces, operating rooms, and medical equipment, or by guiding other personnel in the environment maintenance.• Assists anesthesia personnel with patient positioning and anesthesia administration.• Applies principles of asepsis, infection control, and medical ethics.• Assists with terminal cleanup of OR and prepares for follow-up procedures.• Receives, decontaminates, and cleans soiled patient care items.• Stores, maintains, and distributes sterile patient care items.• Assists the circulating nurse with preparing records, reports, and requests.• Prepares specimens for transport to the laboratory.• Performs scrub duties in operating room. Scrubs hands and arms and dons sterile gown and gloves. Prepares and maintains sterile instruments, supplies, and equipment of draped tables and stands. Counts sponges, needles, instruments, and related items with circulating nurse before, during, and after surgical procedures. Assists the operative team with applying sterile drapes to the surgical field. Passes instruments, sutures, and other supplies to the sterile operative team. Anticipates surgeon’s needs, and provides additional assistance as directed. Cares for surgical specimens on the sterile field. Cleans and prepares instruments and reusable supplies for terminal sterilization and decontamination.• Performs recovery room or basic nursing duties. Assists surgeon and nursing staff with monitoring and recording vital signs. Administers oxygen, helps arouse patient, and carries out surgeon’s post-operative orders. Assists with identifying and managing of postoperative complications.• Performs general clinic functions. Prepares patients, instruments, supplies, and equipment for specialized procedures in the OR and specialty clinic. Assists specialty surgeon during surgical and diagnostic procedures. Assembles, operates, and maintains diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. Orders diagnostic, laboratory and radiographic procedures as directed. Performs activities unique to specific surgical clinics. Attends in-service training in new procedures, techniques, and equipment.• Assists physicians with patient care; properly fits and applies pre-operative soft goods/ dressings, appliances; assists in preparation for and application of and changes dressings; removes sutures and any other patient care items as mandated by the Government Supervisor/ Provider.• Assists physicians and nurses with General Surgery/ Plastics/Colorectal/Trauma/ procedures, including wound care, aspirations, minor surgical procedures, etc; instructs patients in pre-operative/post-operative care • Maintains clean and well-stocked cast and soft goods room; orders special supplies and/or equipment.• Coordinates data collection resources for the clinic information systems.• Remains current with surgical trends, care and supplies; performs other duties as assigned. Works the front desk as required to schedules patient appointments, reschedule appointments, answer calls, faxes, and performs any other daily administrative, patient check–in procedures at the front desk as required. Completes T-Cons (telephone consults) IAW Medical Group instructions and/or Department instructions.• Develops and maintains aseptic techniques where required during surgical and clinical procedures. Draws up injection medications as prescribed by the provider, consents the patient for the injection and preps injection siteprior to the injection, using proper sterile techniques, knowledge of medications given and possible side effects and adverse reactions. Participates in continuing education programs to maintain technical proficiency and to stayabreast of latest developments in the field. Ensures Surgical Suite and Patient Treatment rooms are adequately stocked with supplies to include office supplies, operating publications and linens. Gives training and instructions toother hospital staff such as physician assistants, acute care physicians, nurses, and medical journeyman concerning clinical and surgical techniques and principles. With rare exception, takes timely and appropriate action inemergency situations. Promptly notifies the attending physician of any unusual occurrence or problems during application and removal of any device.• Must ensure the doctor's orders are followed exactly as serious complications could result with surgical/clinical procedures. Standardized procedures are available but must be adapted or modified in every case as no twoprocedures are identical. Work must be customized to each patient. The work entails full Surgical/Clinical support including patient reception, answering telephones, executing screening/taking vitals, and assisting with minor andmajor surgeries. Decisions about what needs to be done depends on instruments, examination and treatment procedures, and other variables. The work requires interpreting a variety of elements such as patient condition,medication, or instrument performance to be sure of test results. The chosen course of action is selected from several alternatives: for example, when tests or procedures do not give acceptable results he/she selects a differentalternative. The work also requires counseling patients on special programs: patients cover all age groups ranging from young dependents to healthy Active Duty members to retirees with musculoskeletal conditions, asadvised/directed by the provider. Also, trauma victims will be encountered for surgical treatment. Work requires the performance of a wide range of surgical skills and providing assistance to the physician during various procedures. A variety of conditions concerning all areas of the anatomy are involved. In addition, the work performed in the minor treatment room and surgery suites requires the performance of routine and specialized surgical support tasks critical to the performance of the surgeon's procedure.• Performs basic General Surgery clinic duties. Executes reception desk duties according to standard operating procedures. Reviews patient medical record for previous exams and other pertinent data for provider's referenceduring current exam. Schedules and provides preoperative instruction/information for surgical procedures for both outpatients and inpatients. Documents patient education provided. Maintains operative records of all surgicalprocedures performed in the surgical suite. Receives telephone calls and requests for assistance or information from patients, administrative support staff, nurses and physicians. Provides information requested or refers caller(s) to appropriate agency or section for assistance in accordance with established protocols. Ensures all needed records, X-rays and medical reports (i.e., MRI/CT/X-rays/EKGs/arthrogram results and any other pertinent consultations)are available to the physician. Schedules patient visits for initial evaluations, follow-ups, pre-operative and postoperative care. Maintains and files physician copy of clinic records. Prepares, and reestablishes patient treatmentrooms between patients and prepares medications for administration by the provider. Instructs preoperative patients regarding admission procedures. Logs patient in to the Medical Software the MTF uses to ensure workloadaccounting. Performs other General Surgery clinic activities as directed by supervisor. Routinely performs clinic duties promptly and efficiently. With rare exception, effectively monitors patients for reactions to medications andpromptly notifies nurse and/or physician in case of adverse reaction. With rare exception, properly documents administration of medications. Routinely performs clinic duties accurately, effectively and within office andMedical Group guidelines. Routinely interacts with patients and staff pleasantly and professionally. • Perform duties assigned by Flight NCOIC, Flight Chief and Flight Commander. Compiles with productivity requirements established by Chain of Command. Work assignments are usually performed with considerable independence. The employee is responsible for planning and carrying out the work, resolving the majority of conflicts and discrepancies that arise, integrating and coordinating the work of others as necessary and interpreting policy withrespect to established objectives. Incumbent must be self-directing in recognizing and prioritizing duties. The employee keeps the supervisor informed about progress, potentially controversial matters and hard to resolveproblems. Completed work is reviewed and evaluated for accuracy, technical soundness and conformity to guidelines and existing policy requirements. Incumbent routinely on own takes patient vital signs, obtainsinformation regarding visit, and prepares patient for treatment by physician. • The supervisor makes assignments defining objectives, priorities, and deadlines and assists the employee inresolving unusual or difficult problems. Incumbent is relied upon to perform details of work assignments with minimum supervision and guidance.• Performs surgical duties. Performs scrub functions during General Surgery, Plastics, Colorectal, and Trauma surgeries in the surgical treatment of medical conditions and diseases. Also assists the provider when performingminor procedures such as the removal of foreign bodies/ Incision and drainage and washouts. Provides instruction and information on procedures to be performed; IAW aseptic requirements, sets up equipment, establishes a sterile field, assembles needed sterile supplies and hands sterile items to the physician. Performs dressing changes IAW aseptic standards within clinic treatment area, cleans minor wounds and removes sutures. During surgery, assists in moving and positioning the patient; assists in draping the patient for surgery, preparation of specialty equipment. Aids in surgical exposure by holding and handling instruments, performs retraction, holding and cutting sutures. Anticipates doctor's needs and responds to requests for instruments, supplies, and procedures during surgery to preclude necessity for removal of the surgeon's attention from the operative field. As the surgical technician, actively engages in the manipulation of tissue at the direction of the surgeon, including wound closure. Maintains, safeguards, monitors equipment for proper operation and recognizes when changes in equipment or procedures might result in increased risks and adapts methods to prevent such risks. Assists and applies post-operative dressings, specialized devices. Routinely complies fully with operating room requirements, instructions, andguidelines. Strictly adheres to established aseptic procedures during minor