Description

The Surgical Technologist provides competent and skilled assistance to the surgeon while maintaining the sterile field during the surgical procedure by performing job responsibilities listed herein. 

Requirements

• Possesses abilities to work collaboratively with all members of the health care team to provide safe care to the patient throughout his surgical experience. 
• Demonstrates knowledge in the ability to plan, prepare and assemble the proper sterile supplies & instruments for planned procedure. 
• Possesses skills and knowledge in the proper handling of sterile surgical instruments and supplies while securing a sterile field. 
• Possesses skills and knowledge in the proper handling of contaminated articles used during surgery, to mitigate occupational exposure to self and others. 
• Possesses the required knowledge of surgical instrumentation names, uses and applications. 
• Prepares operating / procedure rooms with specific equipment, sterile instruments and supplies based on physician preferences and the accumulative knowledge based on experiences to optimize work flow, efficiencies and cost containment strategies. 
• Understands and anticipates expected procedure course of events and prepares for and responds with expediency. 
• Protects patient privacy during direct patient contact and abides to HIPAA standards upholding the privacy and security of PHI and ePHI. 
• Other responsibilities may be assigned. 

Technical Competency: Abilities, Skill, Knowledge required for success in the work environment:

• Possesses necessary knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the human body as well as the ability to recognize abnormal conditions. 
• Possesses vocabulary of surgical instrumentation, association by recognition and understands functional applications. 
• Retains advanced aptitude for technical knowledge and the functional use of equipment, instruments and sophisticated surgical supplies. 
• Possesses exceptional organizational skills in preparing the sterile field, showing an awareness for where articles are at all times to prevent the retention of unplanned articles. 
• Maintains the sterile field and acts appropriately with corrective action when sterility has been breached. 
• Recognizes instrument failure or rule out probability of broken and or inability to use. Removes from sterile field, with definitive information of problem. 
• Attends to ongoing cleansing of instrumentation at point of use, to reduce bioburden. At end of procedure, carefully handles contaminated endoscopes, delicate instruments, and instrument sets by preparing for transport to SPD. 
• Astute awareness to rapidly changing conditions in the work environment that requires rapid intervention and appropriate action within the sterile field. Manages competing demands based on thorough investigation or under the direction of the physician. 
• Effectively communicates accounts of surgical activity in accurate detail to receiving parties and / or context which is legible and timely. 
• Able to read and interpret technical written information or instructions and apply according to operate equipment safely. 
• Possesses the knowledge and abilities to complete the process of instrument decontamination and sterilization. 
• Methodically applies rational thought to practices which insure an environment of safety and security for the patient under anesthesia. 
• Consistently applies hand hygiene practices and other aseptic techniques before, during and after administering direct patient care. 

Qualifications:

• Graduate of Accredited School of Surgical Technology. 
• Certification or Registry – Surgical Technologist (as determined by state) 
• One year of operating room scrub experience required. 
• Must be CPR certified within six (6) months of hire date and maintain certification. 

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duty of this job, the employee is repeatedly exposed to potentially infectious material, and biological bodily fluids. This job is Category I of the OSHA definitions. Occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and pharmaceutical waste and risk of radiation. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand stationary for long periods; walk; have use of hands & fingers, touch or feels; reach with hands and arms; speak, listen, and smell. The employee is frequently required to sit and stoop, kneel, push, pull, crouch, or crawl.