SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST

Independence Health System•Butler Township, PA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Surgical Technologist assists with surgical procedures in the Operating Room as a scrub member of the surgical team under the direction of a registered nurse and a surgeon. This role involves delivering direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital/departmental policies, procedures, protocols, and professional standards of care. The technologist works with the RN to develop and implement individualized, age-specific plans of care, reassess patient conditions, and involve patients/families and other healthcare providers as appropriate. Documentation on the O.R. Count Sheet and Surgical Site Identification/Verification Checklist is crucial for completeness, accuracy, and timeliness. The position requires maintaining collaborative relationships with physicians and healthcare providers to ensure desired patient outcomes and a continuous flow of patient care, including communicating pertinent information during interdisciplinary conferences and shift reports. Participation in unit performance improvement activities, data collection, and recommending modifications for enhanced quality of patient care and customer service is also expected. The role demonstrates leadership abilities by utilizing credo standards, solving problems independently, maintaining accountability, functioning as a resource, acting as a patient advocate, and potentially serving as a preceptor/mentor. Compliance with State, JCAHO, OSHA, and other regulatory agencies, including preparation for surveys and adherence to infection control processes, is mandatory. Patient safety is paramount, requiring the use of two forms of patient identification and assuming appropriate code team roles during emergencies. As the scrub member, the technologist obtains necessary instruments and supplies, arranges sterile setups, updates physician preference cards, assists with patient positioning, identifies the correct surgical procedure and site, assists the surgeon, handles specimens appropriately, performs OR counts accurately, adapts to changing needs, and assists with cleaning and setup of surgical cases, always following principles of asepsis.

Requirements

Successful completion of surgical technology program.
Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment.
Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Nice To Haves

One (1) – three (3) years surgical scrub experience preferred.
CST Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Delivers direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital/departmental policies, procedures, protocols and other professional standards of care.
Works directly with the RN to develop and implement an individualized, age-specific plan of care and evaluate its effectiveness.
Assists the RN in reassessment of the patient's condition and takes appropriate action as indicated or by unit specific policy.
Involves the patient/family and other health care providers when appropriate.
Completes patient care related activities within schedule time periods.
Complies with completeness, accuracy and timeliness of documentation on O.R. Count Sheet as well as Surgical Site Identification/Verification Checklist.
Maintains a collaborative relationship with physicians and other health care providers to achieve desired patient outcomes and assure a continuous flow of patient care.
Communicates pertinent information for interdisciplinary patient care conferences, shift reports.
Reports changes in the OR schedule, including the need to reassess the needs of the physicians or the OR staff, confers with the OR CNC when there is a need to alert the physician.
Participates in the unit performance improvement activities designed to enhance the quality of patient care and customer services.
Assists in data collection process as requested.
Recommends modifications for performance improvement.
Demonstrates leadership abilities by utilizing the concepts inherent to the practice of the credo standards.
Demonstrates an ability to solve problems independently and seeks assistance from immediate supervisor when appropriate.
Maintains accountability for actions taken.
Effectively functions as a resource person.
Acts as a patient advocate.
Performs effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires and/or students.
Assists in maintaining/decreasing organizational/department costs.
Assists in the department's compliance with State, JCAHO, OSHA and other regulatory agencies.
Participates in preparation for continuous survey readiness for inspections and surveys.
Adheres to the infection control process, including universal precautions, to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting infections.
Provides for patient safety in compliance with hospital and nursing department policies.
Utilizes two forms of patient identification before implementing any form of patient care.
Assumes appropriate code team role during code situations, including internal and external.
Functions as the scrub member of the surgical team.
Obtains necessary instruments and supplies from Central Service.
Performs duties/responsibilities as a central service technician as necessary or assigned.
Arranges sterile setup for each specific operative procedure coordinating with surgeon preference.
Updates physician preference cards.
Assists in moving, lifting and positioning the patient.
Identifies patient appropriate surgical procedure and site by following policy for the surgical site ID.
Assists the surgeon in performing the surgical procedure.
Handles specimens appropriately.
Performs OR counts accurately and takes appropriate action in response to incorrect counts.
Maintains the ability to adapt to the changing needs of the surgical team.
Assists with the cleaning and setting up of surgical cases.
Follows the principles of asepsis, reporting any breaks in aseptic technique and rectifying the situation.
Other duties as assigned.