SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST

Surgical Technologist I

The Surgical Technologist I assists with surgical procedures in the Operating Room as a scrub member of the surgical team under the direction of a registered nurse and a surgeon.

Essential Job Functions

• Delivers direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital/departmental policies, procedures, protocols and other professional standards of care.
• Works directly with the RN to develop and implement an individualized, age-specific plan of care and evaluate its effectiveness.
• Assists the RN in reassessment of the patient's condition and takes appropriate action as indicated or by unit specific policy.
• Involves the patient/family and other health care providers when appropriate.
• Completes patient care related activities within schedule time periods.
• Complies with completeness, accuracy and timeliness of documentation on O.R. Count Sheet as well as Surgical Site Identification/Verification Checklist.
• Maintains a collaborative relationship with physicians and other health care providers to achieve desired patient outcomes and assure a continuous flow of patient care.
• Communicates pertinent information for interdisciplinary patient care conferences, shift reports.
• Reports changes in the OR schedule, including the need to reassess the needs of the physicians or the OR staff, confers with the OR CNC when there is a need to alert the physician.
• Participates in the unit performance improvement activities designed to enhance the quality of patient care and customer services.
• Assists in data collection process as requested.
• Recommends modifications for performance improvement.
• Demonstrates leadership abilities by utilizing the concepts inherent to the practice of the credo standards.
• Demonstrates an ability to solve problems independently and seeks assistance from immediate supervisor when appropriate.
• Maintains accountability for actions taken.
• Effectively functions as a resource person.
• Acts as a patient advocate.
• Performs effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires and/or students.
• Assists in maintaining/decreasing organizational/department costs.
• Assists in the department's compliance with State, JCAHO, OSHA and other regulatory agencies.
• Participates in preparation for continuous survey readiness for inspections and surveys.
• Adheres to the infection control process, including universal precautions, to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting infections.
• Provides for patient safety in compliance with hospital and nursing department policies.
• Utilizes two forms of patient identification before implementing any form of patient care.
• Assumes appropriate code team role during code situations, including internal and external.
• Functions as the scrub member of the surgical team.
• Obtains necessary instruments and supplies from Central Service.
• Performs duties/responsibilities as a central service technician as necessary or assigned.
• Arranges sterile setup for each specific operative procedure coordinating with surgeon preference.
• Updates physician preference cards.
• Assists in moving, lifting and positioning the patient.
• Identifies patient appropriate surgical procedure and site by following policy for the surgical site ID.
• Assists the surgeon in performing the surgical procedure.
• Handles specimens appropriately.
• Performs OR counts accurately and takes appropriate action in response to incorrect counts.
• Maintains the ability to adapt to the changing needs of the surgical team.
• Assists with the cleaning and setting up of surgical cases.
• Follows the principles of asepsis, reporting any breaks in aseptic technique and rectifying the situation
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Successful completion of surgical technology program.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) three (3) years surgical scrub experience preferred.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program (can acquire within six (6) months of hire or transfer in unit)
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance
• Act 81 Compliance
• CST Certification preferred, will need Certification within 6 months of Hire Date

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but does serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between Excela Health locations.

LEAN

• Actively promotes a Lean work culture by performing team member duties to encourage consistent use of LEAN principles and processes, including continually seeking work process improvements. Recognizes the necessity of taking ownership of one's own motivation, morale, performance and professional development. Strives for behavior consistent with being committed to Excela's missions, vision and values.

AAP/EEO

• Excela Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Excela Health to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, non-job related disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected class. Excela Health will conform to the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to perform the Essential Functions listed on the Physical Conditions and ability to perform the Essential Functions on the Working Condition chart below.

House Bill 81 of 2019 The Central Service Technician and Surgical Technologist Regulation ActEnacted 10/29/2020 Effective 12/29/2020 (See attached HB for definitions for Central service technicianand Surgical technologist)

Section 301: CertificationCentral Service Technician (CST) hired after 12/29/2020 must:

Pass a nationally accredited central service exam for CST AND maintain one of the following:Certified registered central service technician credentialORCertified sterile processing and distribution technician credential

Exemption:Law does not apply to an individual who has been employed or otherwise contracted for services as a central service technician by a health care facility on or before December 29, 2020.Exemption Requirement: the facility shall maintain documentation of the CST's date of employment or the contract period when the central service technician provided services to the facility to verify that the CST meets the exemption requirements.

Section 302: Employment and continuing education(a) New employees - CST has 18 months from date of hire to pass a nationally accredited central service exam for CST and obtain one of the two credentials noted above.

(b) Continuing education - Annually complete 10 hours of continuing education. (NOTE:The continuing education required under this subsection shall be in areas related to the functions of a central service technician.)

(c) Facility responsibility - Facility must maintain documentation the CST meets the certification requirements

Section 501:Surgical Technologist (ST) must meet at least one of the following:

Successful completion of a Surgical Technologist program sponsored by an entity holding nationally recognized institutional or programmatic accreditation and hold and maintains a ST certification from an accredited certification program. [501(1)(i)] *OR-Successful completion of appropriate training program for surgical technology in the United States Army, Navy, or Air Force.OR-Provides evidence of an ST certification from an accredited certification program.OR-Was employed to practice surgical technology by the health care facility on or before December 29, 2