OR Tech

Job Title : OR Tech

Department : Surgical Services

Reports To : Surgical Services Manager

FLSA Classification : Non-Exempt

Job Summary : An allied health professional and part of the operating room team. Assists with surgical procedures as well as passes instruments to the surgeon. All OR Technologists work primarily under the supervision of the Registered Nurse and attending surgeon. Provides sterile processing and decontamination services to SJH System departments and offices in an accurate, timely, and courteous manner. Provides quality care to patients before and after surgical procedures, assists with patient care with Registered Nurse.

Job Results & Essential Function

Patient Care

• Follows counting standards with Registered Nurse (circulator).
• Assists with the safe transportation, transfer, positioning, prepping, and draping of patients.

Environment Free from Contaminants & Hazards

• Maintains the cleanliness and orderly appearance of sub-inventory locations by straightening shelves daily and wiping down locations with an approved disinfectant at a minimum of weekly or as needed.
• Maintains the cleanliness and orderly appearance of assigned workspaces. Wipe all horizontal surfaces daily with an approved disinfectant.
• Disassembles and cleans instruments, procedure trays, and equipment utilizing proper protective attire and following established procedures.
• Handles all supplies and equipment in a manner that ensures the maintenance of sterility and compliance with system infection control policies and procedures.
• Decontaminates, inspects, assembles, wraps, and sterilizes all system instrumentation and patient care equipment in accordance with guidance provided by AAMI, CDC, AORN, and JCAHO.
• Monitors all members of the surgical team in order to maintain a sterile field and sterility during each procedure and reports breaks in technique immediately.
• Safely passes sterile items to and from the sterile field.
• Correctly performs surgical scrub, gowning, and gloving for self and surgical team.
• Adheres to principles of asepsis, when assisting with preps and operative procedures.
• Always labels medication and fluids used on the sterile field as per standards.
• Distributes or stores items in accordance with infection control policy and procedure, AAMI recommendations, and common practices.
• Sterilizes instruments, equipment, linen, and supplies using steam or ethylene oxide sterilizers. Loads sterilizers in the proper manner and set time and temperatures to the levels required by the item being processed. Completes appropriate documentation records prior to sterilization. Verifies that parameters have been met by reviewing the equipment print-out at the conclusion of the cycle, initial, and file appropriately.
• Performs biological and chemical monitoring of all terminal sterilization equipment.

Equipment & Supplies Ready for Scheduled Procedures

• Assembles all instrument trays, packs, supply carts following common practices. Inspect all instrumentation for defects. Appropriately utilizes paper and computerized inventory management systems. Notifies the owning department of lost instrumentation and requests instruction on how to proceed. Properly identify and mark sterilized items.
• Examines sterilization/expiration dates (when applicable), inspecting processed items for package integrity, and visually inspecting inventory levels to maintain adequate stock and supply levels.
• Prepares surgical instruments and supplies before, during, and after procedures.
• Maintains monitoring, load, and sterilizer performance records.
• Monitors and replaces sharps containers throughout the hospital at required intervals.
• Obtains random (STAT) emergent or unusual required supplies in cooperation with Materials Management staff.
• Maintains adequate supply levels of sterile processing produced items in sub-inventory locations by properly utilizing and complying with the system’s computerized inventory management program.
• Notifies the Supervisor and/or Lead of any issues pertaining to supply quality or availability concerns.
• Participates in periodic physical inventories.
• Anticipates surgical needs before and during procedures.
• Reports all unusual circumstances that may involve the safety and well-being of patients and staff directly to Surgical Services leadership.

Effective Collaboration that Helps Achieve Organizational Goals

• Participates in department and/or system-wide team dynamic initiatives.
• Provides day-to-day support of workflow within the work unit; including disseminating information, assigning staff to cover for absences, providing technical assistance, answering questions, and resolving problems as directed by the Supervisor of Clinical Support.
• Encourages open communication and cooperative relationships amongst coworkers, hospital staff, and other departments.
• Maintains a level of flexibility with work assignments and schedules to allow for the proper care of our patients/residents and support of system departments and physicians.
• Acts as a team player and works collaboratively within the team and organization.
• Courteously answers/routes telephone calls and record/deliver messages appropriately.
• Assists staff with the identification of supply needs and available alternatives.
• Assists with developing priorities, goals, and action plans.
• Responds to requests from Clinical Supervisor.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to assist with the evaluation of programs and services.

This job description is a summary of the job duties and requirements that represent the general nature and level of work being performed. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. This description is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. All employees are expected to understand and adhere to the Standards/Code of Conduct and the Corporate Compliance Plan as well as ensure all educational requirements related to Corporate Compliance are implemented and adhered to as required by the CCP Education Plan, in addition to compliance with organizational policies and procedures, regulatory expectations, quality, and department standards, etc.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Licensed Practical Nursing Degree in NYS and/or Surgical Technologist certification
• Ability to perform duties in all services including, but not limited to General Surgery, Orthopedics, Vascular, ENT, Ophthalmology, Urology, Endoscopy, GYN.

Licenses and/or Certifications

• Basic life support certification
• Sterilization certification, or working to obtain

Physical Demands

Walking, sitting, repetitive motion, lifting a minimum of 50 pounds, has the ability to stand for long periods of time, i.e. 50 minutes. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.

Language Ability

Ability to read, write and interpret documents in English such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific/trade/technical journals. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, or regulatory agencies. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to speak effectively before groups of employees, patients, and vendors.

Math Ability

Basic math skills and competency in creating figures such as proportions, percentages, and/or ratios

Reasoning Ability

Frequent interruptions, unexpected or planned rotation, and/or change of work assignments, location or hours, maintains composure in stressful situations.

Working Conditions

Potential exposure to bio-hazardous materials, toxic chemicals and communicable diseases, medical waste, subject to extreme temperature fluctuations and elevated noise levels in assigned workspaces. Will work in various areas of Surgical Services, ASU, PACU, and OR. Hours may vary.