Certified Surgery Tech

CALDWELL MEDICAL CENTER JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE: CERTIFIED SURGICAL TECHNICIAN/ CENTRAL STERILE PROCESSING TECHNICIAN/ GENERAL SURGERY CLINIC ASSSISTANT DEPARTMENT: SURGERY REPORT TO: SURGERY MANAGER POSITION SUMMARY: Surgical technologists prepare the operating room, including the sterile field, setting up surgical equipment, supplies and solutions.
During surgery, surgical technologists pass instruments, fluids and supplies to the surgeon and prepare and manage surgical equipment.
Surgical technologists manage the sterile field and specimens.
Surgical technologists perform a count of sponges and supplies to prevent retained foreign objects.
Surgical technologists work under the supervision of a surgeon to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures, ensuring that the operating room environment is safe, that equipment properly functions and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety.
Surgical technologists possess expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combine the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a physician’s performance of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
Central Service Technician: The surgical technician also functions in this role.
The central sterile processing technician coordinates and collaborates the overall cleaning, decontamination, assembly and dispensing of surgical instruments, equipment and supplies needed for daily surgical procedures in surgery and related departments.
Rooms patient, obtains vital signs, weight and medication list Assists with office procedures Obtain pre-authorizations from insurance companies POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Pre-operative duties are as follows: Donning OR attire and personal protective equipment PPE Gathers, checks and opens supplies and equipment needed for the surgical procedure.
Performs the surgical scrub, and donning gown and gloves Sets up the sterile back table and Mayo stand with instruments, supplies, equipment, and medications, solutions needed for the procedure.
Performs initial instrument, sharps and sponge counts with the circulator.
Assists the team members with gowning and gloving.
Assists with draping the patient and establishing the sterile field.
Participates in the surgical site and patient verification during the time out procedure.
Secures tubing, cords, and other sterile accessories.
Intraoperative Duties are as follows: Prepares and anticipates additional instrumentation, equipment and supplies for usage during the procedure.
Anticipates the needs of the surgeon by passing instruments and supplies to surgeon during procedure.
Measures and passes medications, hemostatic agents and irrigation solutions utilized during the surgical procedure.
Holds retractors or instruments as directed by the surgeon.
Sponges or suctions the operative site.
Applies electrocautery to clamps on bleeders.
Cuts suture material as directed by the surgeon.
Coordinates the camera and instruments during endoscopic surgery as directed by the surgeon.
Maintains highest standard of sterile technique during the procedure.
Performs additional counts as necessary.
Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices.
Prepares and passes off specimen(s) as appropriates.
Cleans and prepares instruments for terminal sterilization.
Assists other members of the team with terminal cleaning of the room.
Assists in prepping the OR for the next patient.
Participates in debriefing and quality improvement practice to ensure quality patient care.
Additional duties: Assists with transferring patient to the operating room table.
Monitors the comfort of the patient and provides verbal and tactile reassurance.
Assists in maintaining normothermia.
Assists the anesthesia provider.
Assists with positioning the patient , using appropriate equipment and anatomical principles to avoid patient injury.
Anticipates additional supplies needed during the procedure.
Keeps accurate records throughout the procedure.
Helps transport the patient to the post anesthesia care unit.
Updates and keeps accurate records of the surgeon’s preference cards.
Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.
Central Service Technician: Essential functions: Responsible for all parts of the sterilization process: decontamination, prep, pack, sterilize, documentation of sterilization and sterile storage including remediation of equipment failures and hazards.
Provides integrity and sterility of products and services for the customer.
Work in conjunction with the OR staff to provide timely sterile products.
Operate and maintain decontamination equipment.
Decontaminate, reprocess and maintain flexible endoscopes and bronchoscopes Monitor surgery schedule daily, identify general, specific and potential needs for all cases.
Assists with preparation of patient in pre-op and post-op area Operate and maintain steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed and items in loads.
Monitor and maintain appropriate records to remain compliant with applicable regulatory agencies, as well as reporting occurrences immediately to supervisor.
Maintain strong working/collaborative relationship with other departments to ensure flow and continuity of services.
Attend in-service presentations, including but not limited to infection control, patient safety, quality improvement, MSDS and OSHA standards.
Report defective equipment to the supervisor.
Performs other duties as assigned.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS MINIMUM EDUCATION Surgical technologists graduate from surgical technology programs accredited through ARC/STSA, a collaborative effort of AST and ACS, by CAAHEP.
In addition, surgical technology programs are located in institutions accredited by agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Joint Commission.
Credentials: Certification is conferred by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
Initial certification as a Certified Surgical Technologist is based on satisfactory performance on the national certifying examination following completion of an accredited program in surgical technology.
CST’s maintain their certification by completing 60 approved continuing education hours in a four year period.