SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST

Independence Health System•Butler Township, PA

19d•Onsite

About The Position

The Surgical Technologist I assists with surgical procedures in the Operating Room as a scrub member of the surgical team under the direction of a registered nurse and surgeon. The role provides direct and indirect patient care, supports safe and effective surgical procedures, and works collaboratively with the RN, physicians, and other health care providers. The position may also perform central service technician duties as necessary or assigned. The technologist helps prepare sterile setups, instruments, and supplies for operative procedures; assists with patient movement and positioning; supports the surgeon during procedures; handles specimens; performs accurate operating-room counts; and assists with cleaning and preparing surgical cases. The role follows aseptic and infection-control practices, patient identification and surgical-site verification policies, and applicable regulatory requirements. The position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but serves as a coach and mentor to others in the department. Scheduling is based on operational needs and may include rotating shifts, standby, and on-call work. Local travel between Excela Health locations may be expected. The role also promotes Lean principles, continuous process improvement, and professional development.

Requirements

Successful completion of a surgical technology program.
Strong leadership ability and good organizational skills.
Independent and critical-thinking skills and sound judgment.
Ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through an American Heart Association-approved CPR and AED curriculum, or ability to acquire it within six months of hire or transfer into the unit.
Act 33 clearance with renewal.
Act 34 clearance with renewal.
Act 73 FBI clearance.
Act 81 compliance.
Ability to perform the essential functions listed for the position.
For covered surgical technologists, applicable Pennsylvania law requires meeting a qualifying education, training, certification, or prior-employment pathway; additional continuing-education requirements may apply to individuals who are not appropriately certified or whose certification has lapsed.

Nice To Haves

One to three years of surgical scrub experience.
CST certification.

Responsibilities

Deliver direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital and departmental policies, procedures, protocols, and professional standards.
Work with the RN to develop and implement individualized, age-specific plans of care and evaluate their effectiveness.
Assist the RN in reassessing patients and take appropriate action based on the patient's condition or unit policy.
Involve patients, families, and other health care providers when appropriate.
Complete patient-care activities within scheduled time periods and maintain accurate, complete, and timely operating-room count and surgical-site verification documentation.
Maintain collaborative relationships with physicians and other health care providers to support patient outcomes and continuity of care.
Communicate pertinent information for interdisciplinary care conferences and shift reports; report operating-room schedule changes and coordinate with the OR CNC when physician notification is needed.
Participate in performance-improvement activities, assist with data collection, and recommend improvements.
Demonstrate leadership, independent problem-solving, accountability, resourcefulness, and patient advocacy; seek supervisory assistance when appropriate.
Serve as a preceptor or mentor to new hires and students and help maintain or reduce organizational and departmental costs.
Support compliance with state, JCAHO, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements, including continuous survey readiness.
Follow infection-control practices and universal precautions to reduce infection risks.
Support patient safety by using two forms of patient identification and assuming the appropriate code-team role during internal or external code situations.
Function as the scrub member of the surgical team and obtain instruments and supplies from Central Service.
Perform central service technician duties as necessary or assigned.
Prepare sterile setups for procedures in coordination with surgeon preferences and update physician preference cards.
Assist with moving, lifting, and positioning patients.
Verify the appropriate surgical procedure and site according to policy.
Assist the surgeon during procedures, handle specimens appropriately, and perform accurate operating-room counts, responding appropriately to incorrect counts.
Adapt to changing surgical-team needs, assist with cleaning and setting up surgical cases, and maintain aseptic technique, reporting and correcting any breaks.
Promote Lean principles and continually seek work-process improvements while taking ownership of motivation, morale, performance, and professional development.
Perform other duties as assigned.