Surgical Technologist

UPMC Somerset is seeking a full-time Surgical Technologist to support our Operating Room and GI departments! This role will work variable rotating 10-hour shifts in addition to a rotating on-call schedule!


This position is eligible for a generous Sign-On Bonus of up to $25,000 depending on experience and commitment!

• 0-1 years of experience: work commitment to remain at UPMC for 2 years= $10,000 bonus; 3-year commitment = $12,000 bonus
• 1-2 years of experience: work commitment to remain at UPMC for 2 years= $12,000 bonus; 3-year commitment = $17,000 bonus
• 3+ years of experience: work commitment to remain at UPMC for 2 years= $15,000 bonus; 3-year commitment = $25,000 bonus

Purpose:
Work under the direct supervision of a Clinician to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures in a specific service. Coordinates instrumentation, equipment, and supplies to ensure proper use and availability for quality patient service. Work under the direct supervision of a Clinician and the Director to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive and non-invasive procedures. Perform advanced tasks on a regular basis in an operating room that assist the surgical team. Work on complex surgical procedures within at least three surgical specialties. Arrange sterile setup for surgical procedures; pass instruments, sponge and sutures to surgeons and surgical assistants; prepare sterile supplies; assist in cleanup of the operating room; check placement and operation of equipment; and check and restock operating room. During surgical procedures may be responsible for special trays, grafting materials, and recording patient data. Accountable for instrumentation, equipment, and supplies to ensure proper use and availability for quality patient service.


Responsibilities:

• Teach both skill and theoretical principles to new employees and students.
• During surgery, efficiently pass instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons and surgeon assistants. Under the supervision of the surgeon hold retractors or instruments, cut sutures, sponge or suction the operative site and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
• Assume responsibility under the direction of the Clinician for all repairs, ordering and maintenance of supplies, equipment, lasers and instrumentation related to the specialty service. Assist the Clinician in supervising the use of supplies and equipment for patient care and safety in all procedures.
• Before an operation, help to prepare the operating room by setting up surgical instruments and equipment, sterile drapes, and sterile solutions. Assemble both sterile and non-sterile equipment. Adjust and check equipment to ensure it is working properly.
• Demonstrate initiative in problem solving as related to patient and technical issues that contribute to the improvement of the Operating Room function and operation.
• Coordinate day to day supervision of the surgical technicians. Serve as the Lead on daily shifts to resolve/answer any questions or issues. Teach both skill and theoretical principles to new employees and students.
• Prepare patients for surgery by wash, shave, and ensure aseptic incision sites. May transport patients to the operating room, help position them on the operating table, and cover them with sterile surgical drapes. Assist the surgical team with putting on sterile gowns and gloves.
• Scrub, secure additional supplies as required, maintain asepsis in the Operating Room, select and sterilize instruments, set up for surgical procedures, hand the surgeon instruments and sutures, store equipment and instruments.
• Assist in the preparation, care for, and disposal of specimens taken for laboratory analysis and help apply dressings.
• Support cost containment in the use of materials and equipment.
• An in-depth knowledge related to a specific surgical specialty or a broad knowledge of many specialties.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills and collaborates with the surgeons, specialty team members and other departments. Serve as a resource for staff and other disciplines. Identifies process improvement opportunities and assists in implementation.
• Ensure all medications are labeled and handed to surgeon according to established policies and procedures. After surgery, may help transfer patients to the recovery room. Clean and restock the operating room. Ensure clean, safe environment through continued alertness to safety and explosive hazards and aseptic technique.
• Serve as a resource to other staff members. Assist head nurse by precepting students and new employees.

Qualifications:

PA legislature House Bill 81 enacted 10/29/2020 and became effective 12/27/2020.Must have completed program sponsored by nationally recognized institutional or programmatic accreditation and maintains certification or Has completed appropriate military training program or Maintains certification from accredited program or Was employed as a surg tech in a health care facility on or before effective date of the act (12/27/2020) or Employed as a surg tech at another health care facility two years before effective date (12/27/2020).

• Exception: A health care facility may employ individuals who do not meet the certification requirements if after a diligent and thorough effort has been made they are unable to employ a sufficient number of qualified surg techs who meet the requirements (i.e. certification) and a written record of efforts is made and retained at the health care facility.
  • 1. All of our recruitment efforts are documented and can be supplied for this record.
  • 2. The supply of certified or eligible to be certified Surg techs does not meet our needs. Continuing education requirements: Compliance with continuing ed requirements specified by the credentialing organization for certification.
• For individuals, not certified - must complete 30 hours of continuing ed every two years.
• Specialty experience: Surgical specialties include but are not limited to: general, orthopedic, vascular, plastic, and reconstructive, obstetrics and gynecology, thoracic, ophthalmic, neurosurgery, organ procurement, and endoscopic surgical settings. Access to medications is limited to the distribution of the medication to the nurse.
• Entry-level job 0-2 years experience.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
• Certification Details - Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) or Technologist Surgery Certified (TSC) within 6 months of program completion:
  • Note: Staff employed to practice surgical technology by the healthcare facility on or before the effective date of the law (12/27/2020) or who were employed as a surg tech at another healthcare facility two years before the effective date of the law are grandfathered and therefore not required to have certification.
  • New graduates of a program sponsored by nationally recognized institutional or programmatic accreditation can work for six months prior to certification but must be certified within six months of program completion.
    • Exception: A health care facility may employ individuals who do not meet the certification requirements if after a diligent and thorough effort has been made they are unable to employ a sufficient number of qualified surg techs who meet the requirements (i.e. certification) and a written record of efforts is made and retained at the health care facility. (1. Recruitment efforts are documented and can be supplied for this record. 2. The supply of certified or eligible to be certified Surg techs does not meet the needs of the organization.).
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Certified Surgical Technologists (CST) OR Tech in Surgery-Certified (TSC)
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran