Surgical Services Assistant II - 9505

Surgical Services Assistant II

The SSA II, which encompasses the SSA I role and the additional roles of either Surgery Scheduler/Anesthesia Tech. These roles are dedicated to providing quality service in a timely, courteous and cost effective manner.

Essential Functions:

• Knowledge and Standards of Performance General knowledge of computer, Meditech module. Confidentiality standards. Regulatory standards for quality management (DNV, OSHA, Joint Commission, state and federal laws). Customer service/professionalism. Universal Precautions. Patient Bill of Rights. Chart format chart readiness for surgical procedures, documentation. Recognition of abnormal patient results. Anesthesia/surgeon guidelines for booking cases. Is familiar with and adheres to block scheduling rules. Occurrence reporting. Body mechanics. Dress code. Emergency procedures including malignant hypothermia cases. Maintains a positive, customer-oriented attitude. Meets organizational and work unit standards as outlined in policies and procedures. Performs all job duties in accordance with recognized safety procedures. Demonstrates the ability to make calm and sensible decisions under various work situations dealing with immediate problems reasonably.
• Typical Anesthesia Tech Duties Assist in Anesthesia performing duties involving order and restocking of carts and Anesthesia workroom. Assists with administration of regional, local and general anesthesia and steroid injections. Sets up, assists, assists medical staff and OR staff with technical problems related to delivery of anesthesia. Troubleshoots equipment and arranges the repair through appropriate sources. Communicates with Anesthesia and OR staff. Gathers supplies needed. Knows sterile technique and practices safety for protection of patient, staff and self. Keeps anesthesia supplies stocked and storage area clean. Cleans and restocks equipment for peripheral and central monitoring lines. Cleans and reassembles and maintains all anesthesia equipment. Performs cleaning of machines and workroom as needed also cleaning sterilization of fiber-optic scopes. Recognizes and manages any unsafe or potentially unsafe conditions. Demonstrates competence in caring for patients across the life spectrum including infants, children, adolescents, adults and geriatric patients. Adheres to all policies and procedure regarding attire. Follows Universal Precautions regarding protective attire, equipment, handling of waste and soiled linen. Use/processing of mopping and other cleaning equipment. Identifies risks/conditions which would threaten the integrity of the "clean" status of the room and manages them. Takes appropriate safeguards to prevent injury to self and/or others regarding hazardous materials/conditions or equipment. Understands the hazardous materials policies.
• Typical SSA II Expanded Roles Assists surgeon to hold retractors and limbs during surgery as directed by surgeon. Assists with preparation of procedures under the direct supervision of the Circulating Nurse. Effectively cleans and organizes the O.R. rooms between cases to ensure that the turnover time between scheduled procedures does not exceed seven (7) minutes. Performs SSA I duties when needed. Provides oversight and guidance to new employees and non-employees Effectively explains procedures and protocols, demonstrates procedures or techniques, and answers questions as warranted when assisting with the orientation and training of new employees. Provides oversight and guidance to new and non-employees, intervening as appropriate to correct deficiencies in their work accuracy, reporting observed problems to supervisor or manager. Knows and applies infection control and safety procedures Causes no harm to self or others due to the failure to use proper body mechanics. Ensures that carts are properly placed and transported, so that clear pathways are maintained for people to travel through. Properly applies aseptic technique, infection control procedures and Universal Precautions, as warranted.

Processes and Procedures:

• Routing information to necessary departments. Booking of add-on and emergency cases; informing anesthesia and nursing staff in a case-appropriate timeframe. Requesting of needed x-rays, pathologists. Answering phone calls, triaging and routing calls as necessary. Assisting with picking up patients, specimen transporting, reporting lab results. Ambulates patients. Dirty linen to soiled utility, proper disposal of wastes including sharps containers. Cleaning rooms and basic patient care as time permits. Order Entry, Nursing, PCI Order transcription. Medical terminology, lead placement and monitor telemetry setup and discontinuance and basic telemetry rhythms, recognition of arrhythmias that indicate a need for intervention. Emergency procedure protocols and role in those situations. Disaster phone tree monitoring and restocking needed office supplies.

Knowledge/Use of Equipment:

• Office equipment, fax, computer (Meditech), copier, printers, phones, intercoms, paging system, chart stamper, gurneys, IV pumps, beds, OR tables. Basic understanding of SaO2 monitor. O2 delivery devices; masks, nasal cannulas. Pulse Oximeter. Able to keep blanket and fluid warmer running or start them after power outage. Troubleshoot copy machine. Preventive maintenance on OR tables. Change light bulbs in the OR complex. Demonstrates correct setup, use, maintenance and cleaning of OR anesthesia equipment including, but not limited to: Ohmeda Anesthesia machine, Datascope and Cardiac monitors, various gas analyzers and SaO2 and CO2 monitors; Zoll external defibrillator/pacemaker; various types of invasive monitoring setups. CVPs, Swan Ganz, multiple Luman setups with and without transducers. Various O2 delivery setups. Rapid infusion pump and blood warmers. Drug infusion pumps, traction devices, tourniquets, pre-carts and dressing carts, suture carts, video towers, SaO2 monitor. O2 delivery devices; masks, cannulas. Basic asepsis and sterile technique, Universal Precautions and OR housekeeping procedures.

Continuous Quality Improvement:

• Demonstrates appropriate use of incident reports, maintenance orders or QA concerns; i.e., equipment failures, personnel injury, all safety procedures, infection control, fire and disaster, electrical safety procedures, equipment maintenance and employee health policies. Leads and/or participates in developing and designing systems and processes for the new organization. Continually improves and redesigns processes to increase productivity and quality.

Required Education and Training:

• Obtains 10 hours of continuing education per year. *Continuing Education: Identifies new topics for continuing education, and pursues educational offerings. Shares educational information with coworkers, keeps record of continuing education. Uses educational information to develop/update practice standards. Attends staff meetings and all annual mandatory sessions. Actively participates in staff orientation.

Resource Utilization:

• Demonstrates responsible use of resources, including time, facilities, supplies, equipment, staff, information, finances, education and developmental assets. Fiscally responsible, including corporate billing compliance. Efficiently uses resources, tools and supplies, recycling when possible. Uses and disposes of confidential information appropriately. Shares expertise and knowledge with others. Cares for equipment properly. Spends education funds responsibly to enhance job performance Practices accountable and productive time management. Shares responsibility in facility upkeep (i.e.: see it, own it, do it, solve it). Seeks information and plans work to maximize team effectiveness.

Education: High School graduate or GED required.

Experience/Training: One year clinical, Medical Assistant-Certified or C.N.A. experience required. Two years experience as an anesthesia assistant/anesthesia technician or surgery scheduler or equivalent experience, preferred.

License/Certifications: Washington State Certified Nursing Assistant license or Washington State Medical Assistant-Certified (MA-C) license required. American Heart Association Healthcare Provider BLS required. Must maintain USDOT Hazmat certification before working solo or within 90 days of hire, whichever comes first.

Other Skills: Ability to handle high stress conditions. Ability to read and follow written and verbal instructions. Ability to prioritize in a fast moving environment. Ability to multitask and be self-directed. Familiarity with surgical instruments, instrument processing, surgical services, anesthesia tech or scheduling in surgical services preferred. Familiarity with inventory management and inventory computer systems preferred. Computer literacy in Microsoft Word or Excel preferred.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. The employee must frequently lift or move objects and patients weighing over 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to focus.

Skagit Regional Health offers a comprehensive benefit package including