Endoscopy tech 1

Advocate Health•Park Ridge, IL

2d•$21 - $31

About The Position

The Endoscopy Tech 1 supports the patient continuum of care and provides safe patient care in the gastrointestinal services unit. The role assists with procedures under the guidance of a registered nurse, supports patients before, during, and after procedures, prepares procedure rooms and equipment, and helps maintain an efficient workflow. The technician handles, labels, and transports specimens; communicates pertinent information to clinical team members; and contributes to patient-safety initiatives, including timeouts, equipment traceability, and safety-event reporting. The position is responsible for cleaning and decontaminating endoscopes and other instrumentation in accordance with SGNA guidelines and established asepsis procedures. Duties include operating and monitoring decontamination and high-level-disinfection equipment, documenting cycle results, handling infectious waste according to hospital policy, maintaining a clean work area, and reporting equipment malfunctions. The technician also tests equipment, maintains repair and maintenance records, coordinates repairs with the appropriate staff and Biomedical Engineering, and helps maintain unit inventory. Additional duties may include precepting new employees, assisting with annual competency testing, using computer systems to send and retrieve information, assembling and disassembling outpatient charts, answering phones, and communicating supply needs. The role involves rotating shifts with variable start times and participation in call coverage. The department is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; it is closed Sundays and listed federal holidays. A 0.9 position requires call, typically three to four times in a six-week schedule. The position requires working with exposure to body fluids, waste, chemicals, radiation, hazardous materials, and life-threatening diseases. It also requires the ability to respond quickly to emergencies and codes, work in a fast-paced and demanding environment, and perform very heavy lifting as described in the posting. For direct patient lifting, the posting specifies lifting up to 35 pounds without assistance and using patient-handling equipment with another associate for lifts over 35 pounds or when a patient cannot assist, when available.

Requirements

High school education or equivalent.
At least one year of related experience.
Current CPR certification.
Good communication, organizational, and interpersonal/customer-service skills.
Basic computer skills.
Ability to work rotating shifts with variable start times and to cover call on evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to adapt to changing environments, respond quickly to emergencies, and respond to codes in clinical settings.
Ability to work with exposure to body fluids, waste, chemicals, radiation, hazardous materials, and life-threatening diseases.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints and demanding situations.
Ability to perform the physical demands stated in the posting, including very heavy lifting; for direct patient care, lift up to 35 pounds without assistance and use patient-handling equipment with another associate for patient lifts over 35 pounds or when the patient cannot assist, when available.
Ability to communicate with patients, physicians, and other team members.

Nice To Haves

Patient care experience preferred.
Knowledge of computer keyboard preferred.

Responsibilities

Transport patients efficiently to, within, and from the unit.
Assist with patient positioning and basic patient care during procedures, including manipulating the outer abdominal wall when needed to facilitate endoscope advancement.
Ensure patient safety during electrocautery procedures, including proper grounding and functioning of electrocautery equipment.
Assist in collecting, labeling, handling, and transporting laboratory specimens.
Assist with procedures under the guidance of a registered nurse.
Set up procedure rooms and equipment and facilitate room turnaround.
Communicate pertinent information to the RN, charge nurse, manager, and physician.
Assist with pre- and post-procedure care under a registered nurse’s guidance, including taking vital signs, transporting patients, assisting with dressing and undressing, and removing IVs.
Initiate or collaborate with the team on safety initiatives, including timeouts, equipment traceability, and reporting safety events.
Clean and decontaminate endoscopes and instrumentation according to SGNA standards and procedures that prevent cross-contamination or equipment damage.
Wear protective attire, follow asepsis standards, operate decontamination equipment, maintain workflow, keep the work area clean, and handle infectious waste according to policy.
Monitor high-level-disinfection equipment on each cycle, document results, interpret recorder data, set up items appropriately in the processor, and perform chemical and biological monitoring per department protocol.
Report equipment malfunctions promptly, including reporting high-level-disinfection equipment malfunctions to the charge person and Biomedical Engineering.
Ensure equipment components are present, assembled, and ready for use; test equipment; coordinate repairs; and maintain accurate repair and maintenance records.
Communicate with Biomedical Engineering about endoscope repairs and with the Endoscopy Technician II or leader when supplies are needed.
Maintain unit inventory and perform other unit duties as assigned.
Use computer systems to send and retrieve information, including the imaging system and tracking board.
Assist with assembly and disassembly of outpatient patient charts.
Answer phones and communicate information to an appropriate team member.
May precept new employees and assist with annual competency testing.
Cover call on evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as required; work rotating shifts with variable start times.
Recognize the needs and behaviors of adolescent, adult, and older adult patients and adapt communication and approach accordingly.