Orthopedic Technician

Job Title

Under general supervision, to assist physicians by carrying out orders for application, modification, and removal of splints, casts, and traction and by assisting with insertion and removal of pins, reduction of bone fractures, and external fixations.

The Power of WE: Together, we can make a greater impact. Bringing better care and expanding healthcare services across the community.

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the second largest public health care system in California and includes four acute care hospitals, 14 clinics and 60+ specialty and sub-specialty services. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County.

Because we serve patients throughout multiple hospitals and clinics, you may have to work at different sites. We will meet any obligations we may have when this occurs.

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - SCVMC is a full-service tertiary acute care teaching hospital with 699 licensed beds providing a wide range of specialized services, including Rehabilitation, Burn, Trauma, and NICU. SCVMC was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #6 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation and #1 in the West and designated as a 2024 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care, Heart Failure, Stroke, Hip Fracture, and Pneumonia.

O'Connor Hospital - O'Connor Hospital (OCH) is a 358 licensed bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to residents of Santa Clara County. It was founded in 1889 as one of the first hospitals in the county. OCH has grown significantly over the past five years in both its inpatient volume and its Emergency Department visits. Along with these volume increases other ancillary and clinical departments like imaging, lab, pharmacy, and respiratory have seen growth as well.

St. Louise Regional Hospital - Since 1989, St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH) has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. SLRH has 93 beds, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, SLRH maintains a CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter base on the premises.

Regional Medical Center – Regional Medical Center (RMC) is a 258-bed hospital that is the main emergency healthcare provider for East San José, treating a wide range of critical and life-threatening conditions for more than 60 years. Since the SCVH integration of RMC effective 4/1/25, RMC has expanded the critical services including Level II trauma, Thrombectomy capable Stroke Center and STEMI care, and has been seeing an increased number of emergency visits and inpatient volume.

Typical Tasks

The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

• Greets and explains splint, cast, or traction procedures to patients;
• Applies a wide variety of splints, casts, soft goods, and traction to patients on the basis of physicians' orders;
• Sets up traction for transporting patients to other departments;
• Evaluates the condition of casts or splints and soft goods and repairs or replaces them as appropriate;
• Bivalves, univalves, and removes all types of casts following physicians' orders;
• Performs cast wedging per physicians' orders;
• Inspects cast-related wounds on request and removes staples and stitches as ordered;
• Prepares patients, sets up equipment and medications, and assists physicians in inserting and removing pins, reducing fractures, and performing external fixations;
• Instructs patients regarding cast care, ambulation limitations, walking with crutches, dressing wounds in casts, and identifying symptoms of problems with casts;
• Identifies problems with casts and makes repairs as needed;
• Observes the condition of patients and informs the physician if relevant to the procedure being contemplated;
• Makes appropriate charges for traction and equipment and returns equipment not currently in use;
• Orders supplies and equipment;
• Makes appropriate documentation for patient care, billing, supplies, and equipment;
• Assists in carrying out orders in the Emergency and Operating rooms as requested;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required*;
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:

Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through one (1) year of full-time experience working or being trained as an orthopedic technician

OR

Successful completion of a recognized course program evidenced by a certificate as an Orthopedic Technician.

Special Requirements

• Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California driver's license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.
• *As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help. A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

Knowledge of:

• Types of casts, splints, and traction devices and the specific conditions for which each is used;
• Methods and techniques of applying, modifying, repairing, and removing a complete range of casts and splints;
• Methods of setting up and adjusting a complete range of traction devices;
• Safety protocols, including sterile and aseptic techniques;
• Safety procedures;
• English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;
• Common computer systems and applications.

Ability to:

• Instruct patients regarding care of casts and related matters;
• Deal and communicate effectively with traumatized persons;
• Follow physicians' orders regarding casting, splinting, and setting up traction;
• Document and bill accordingly;
• Work in inpatient and outpatient areas;
• Read and understand material safety data sheets and other safety communications;
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies.

Physical Requirements

• Stand and sit for long periods of time and exercise a moderate amount of physical exertion, stamina, and manual dexterity in the handling of patients and equipment;
• Assist, support, lift, and transfer patients in a safe manner.