Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care.  Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

• Extra-help employment has a limited term (up to 9 months).
• Health Benefits coverage may be offered.
• Shift Differentials vary per classification.

Position: PeriOperative Associate - Temporary

Compensation:

The estimated pay for this position is $19.2030 to $25.8072. This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses.

Definition:

Under the direction of the Perioperative Leadership, and in cooperation of with other Perioperative Associates, is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the Perioperative Departments, patient and equipment transportation, and maintenance of assigned supply inventory. 

Distinguishing Characteristics:

The Perioperative Associate (POA) performs tasks following established procedures under close supervision of the POA Lead and the POA Supervisor. This position is responsible for providing a full range of patient care and facility related support services.

The POA also assists and supports departmental supply ordering process, demonstrates ability to work independently with minimum supervision, maintains excellent time management skills, and assists in the efficient flow and safety of the Perioperative patient.

Essential Functions:

• Performs cleaning tasks in patient and non-patient care areas within the perioperative department.
• Demonstrate an excellent working knowledge of cleaning and disinfectant techniques and Universal Precautions with ability to apply them in all phases of perioperative assigned responsibilities.
• Removes, transports, and disposes of refuse and contaminated material according to perioperative and industry standards and State and Federal regulations.
• Prepares surgical suites to include the assembly, cleaning and disassembly of multiple surgical surfaces and equipment ensuring a clean surgical environment.
• Monitors, orders, stocks, and rotates general inventory in the perioperative department within the required timeframes.
• Safely transport patients within the hospital as directed; assists in the transfer of patients to and from wheel chairs and beds, along with positioning of patients under the direction of clinical staff.
• Distributes and collects patient trays.
• Assists in patient preparedness activities such as hair clipping and cast removal.
• Maintains effective working relationships with patients, physicians, vendors, the public and hospital staff.
• Transports and/or retrieves perioperative materials/items to and from various locations in the hospital.
• Completes required documentation within established timelines.
• Maintains real time communication within the unit leadership regarding status of availability and assigned work.
• Ensures radio transmitter is operational and utilized when on duty;
• Conducts a hand-off report to oncoming shift as indicated;
• Attends departmental/hospital in-service orientation, training and other staff meetings.

Other Functions:

• Identifies room and facility maintenance needs and reports to appropriate staff.
• Performs other job-related duties as required.

Employment Standards:

• Six (6) months experience in an acute care facility in one or more of the following fields preferred:

• •        Housekeeping
  •        Food service
  •        Patient care services        
  •       Transportation
  •        Laundry work
  •        Janitorial services
  •        Environmental services (EVS)
  •        Operating Room/Procedural Suite experience; 

• Possess a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card at time of hire. As a continued condition of employment, employee must maintain RQI Responder certification and competency
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions;
• Ability to use proper body mechanics when transporting patients to protect patient and self.
• Ability to utilize the assigned radio transmitter using appropriate telephone etiquette;
• Ability to handle information requests with courtesy, accuracy and respect for confidentiality;
• Ability to work toward a teamwork concept with all members of the Perioperative team, support department mottos of the PATIENT COMES FIRST, with an emphasis on safety, and interacts with and handles all patients, peers, other department personnel, volunteers and external service providers in a courteous and professional manner.

Supplemental:

Dependent upon assignment, applicants may be required to pass an extensive background investigation, and be fingerprinted.  Disqualification for felony, misdemeanor, and traffic offenses will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

All Kern Medical employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers” through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec. 3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2 - Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services.) As Disaster Service Workers, all county employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable following a significant emergency or disaster.

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.