Surgical Technician

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Assists in the organization and daily function of the operating room and endoscopy suite in accordance with established Federal, State and accreditation standards and center policies and procedures. Assists nurses and physicians in delivering the highest standard of patient care available. Responsible for sterile processing functions and endoscopy scope reprocessing in compliance with infection prevention standards, manufacturer instructions for use (IFU), and facility policies.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education/Experience/Licenses/Certificates/Eligibility:

High School diploma or GED. Operating room and/or endoscopy experience required. Two (2) years of hospital main operating room, sterile processing, or endoscopy experience desired. Current BCLS required. Certification as a Surgical Technician and/or Sterile Processing Technician preferred.

Eligibility:

All employees must be able to provide proof of their identity and their right to work in the United States.

Skills/Knowledge/Ability:

Interpersonal:

Effective communication skills; oral and written. Demonstrates a positive, friendly, and courteous manner. Serves as a role model to other staff members. Demonstrates the ability to work well with other employees.

Critical Thinking:

Ability to organize equipment, instruments, and supplies for cases according to patient needs and physician preference cards. Ability to adhere to the work schedule and manage time appropriately. Assumes responsibility for competency and takes initiative for professional development and continuing education. Ability to handle stress associated with prioritizing multiple tasks. Above average organization skills.

Knowledge:

Working knowledge and experience in a operating room, ambulatory surgery center, sterile processing department, or endoscopy setting. Ability to anticipate the needs of the physician and have equipment, medical gases, and supplies readily available for all procedures. Ability to scrub all types of cases preferred. Ensures that an adequate amount of in-house supplies and medical gases are available in accordance with weekly caseload.

Knowledge of sterile processing procedures including decontamination, assembly, inspection, packaging, sterilization, storage, and biological monitoring of surgical instrumentation and equipment. Knowledge of infection prevention standards and manufacturer instructions for use (IFU).

Knowledge of endoscopy equipment, accessories, and endoscope reprocessing procedures including leak testing, manual cleaning, high-level disinfection, automated endoscope reprocessor (AER) operation, drying, storage, and documentation requirements.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Surgical Technician Responsibilities:

• Assists with surgical procedures by preparing and maintaining sterile fields.
• Organizes instruments, supplies, and equipment for surgical procedures according to physician preference cards.
• Assists physicians and nurses during procedures and anticipates procedural needs.
• Performs room turnover and ensures procedure rooms are appropriately stocked and prepared.

Endoscopy Technician Responsibilities:

• Assists physicians and nursing staff during endoscopic procedures by preparing procedure rooms, equipment, and supplies.
• Assists with patient positioning, specimen handling, room turnover, and procedure support activities.
• Ensures endoscopy equipment and accessories are functioning properly and available for scheduled procedures.
• Maintains knowledge of endoscopic instrumentation and equipment troubleshooting.

Sterile Processing Responsibilities:

• Performs decontamination, cleaning, assembly, inspection, packaging, sterilization, and storage of surgical instruments and equipment according to facility policies and manufacturer instructions for use.
• Monitors sterilization processes, biological indicators, and sterilization documentation logs.
• Maintains instrument inventory and ensures availability of supplies and instruments for scheduled procedures.
• Identifies damaged or malfunctioning instruments and reports concerns appropriately.

Endoscopy Scope Processing Responsibilities:

• Performs leak testing, manual cleaning, high-level disinfection, automated endoscope reprocessing (AER), drying, storage, and documentation of endoscopes.
• Ensures endoscope reprocessing is completed according to manufacturer instructions, infection prevention guidelines, and regulatory standards.
• Maintains accurate scope tracking logs and traceability documentation.
• Ensures proper transport, handling, and storage of endoscopy scopes and accessories.

MACHINES, EQUIPMENT, WORK AIDES:

Computer, telephone and fax. Standard surgical instrument use and processing equipment and medical supplies. Medical gas canisters, standard operating room machinery, endoscopy equipment, autoclaves, washer/sterilizers, automated endoscope reprocessors (AER), leak testers, and sterilization monitoring systems.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Occasional overtime. Must handle stress in meeting time demands.