Surgical Technologist, Ambulatory Surgery

Description

This position expects the surgical technologist to be an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients. Surgical technologists work under the supervision and delegatory authority of a surgeon to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive and non-invasive surgical procedures, ensuring that the operating room environment is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety.

Surgical technologists are experts in the theory and application of the principles of asepsis and sterile technique to combine the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation and tools and technologies to facilitate a physician’s performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.

The surgical technologist in the first scrub role handles the instruments, supplies, and equipment necessary during the surgical procedure. He/she has an understanding of the procedure being performed and anticipates the needs of the surgeon. He/she has the necessary knowledge and ability to ensure quality patient care during the operative procedure and is constantly vigilant for maintenance of the sterile field.

The surgical technologist in the second scrub role assists the surgeon and/or surgical assistant at the table during the operative procedure by carrying out tasks including sponging, suctioning, cutting sutures, holding retractors and manipulating the camera.

• Donning OR attire and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Gathers, checks and opens supplies and equipment needed for the surgical procedure.
• Performs the surgical scrub, and donning gown and gloves.
• Sets up the sterile back table and Mayo stand with instruments, supplies, equipment, and medications/solutions needed for the procedure.
• Performs initial instrument, sharps and sponge counts with the circulator.
• Assists the team members with gowning and gloving.
• Assists with draping the patient and establishing the sterile field.
• Participates in the surgical site and patient verification during the time out procedure.
• Secures tubing, cords and other sterile accessories.

• Prepares and anticipates additional instrumentation, equipment and supplies for usage during the procedure.
• Anticipates the needs of the surgeon by passing instruments and supplies to surgeon during procedure.
• Measures and passes medications, hemostatic agents and irrigation solutions utilized during the surgical procedure.
• Holds retractors or instruments as directed by the surgeon.
• Sponges or suctions the operative site.
• Applies electrocautery to clamps or forceps on bleeders.
• Cuts suture material as directed by the surgeon.
• Coordinates the camera or changes out robotic arms/instruments during robotic surgery as directed by the surgeon.
• Maintains highest standard of sterile technique during the procedure.
• Performs additional counts as necessary.
• Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices.
• Prepares and passes off specimen(s) as appropriate.
• Cleans and prepares instruments for terminal sterilization.
• Assists other members of the team with terminal cleaning of room.
• Assists in prepping the OR for the next patient.
• Participates in debriefing and quality improvement practices to ensure quality patient care.

• Review the patient’s chart, identifies patient, verifies surgery to be performed with consent forms, and brings the patient to the assigned operating room.
• Assists with transferring patient to the operating room table.
• Monitors the comfort of the patient and provides verbal and tactile reassurance to the patient.
• Maintains normothermia.
• Assists the anesthesia provider.
• Assists with positioning the patient, using appropriate equipment and anatomical principles to avoid patient injury.
• Applies the electrosurgical grounding pad.
• Assists with applying tourniquets and monitors before the procedure begins.
• Completes the patient skin prep prior to draping by the sterile surgical team.
• Performs instrument, sharps, and sponge counts with the surgical technologist in the first scrub role…