Periop Surg Support Tech

University of Maryland Medical System; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maryland Medical System is seeking an Operating Room Assistant to support a safe, clean, and well-prepared surgical environment by assisting with patient and specimen transport, equipment setup, and maintaining sterile conditions.

Responsibilities include preparing OR suites, managing supplies, following infection control protocols, and communicating effectively with patients and healthcare teams to ensure patient safety.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• One year of OR assistant or hospital support experience preferred.
• Aseptic technique and infection control knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Establish courteous relationships with patients, visitors and health care team; respond promptly to instructions.
• Transfer patients from bed, chair, wheelchair, OR table, or stretcher with devices in locked position.
• Use proper body mechanics when moving and transporting surgical equipment and instrumentation.
• Transport surgical patients when other team members are unavailable.
• Transport and provide instruments, equipment and supplies for surgical cases; assist in opening sterile supplies.
• Assist in arranging the OR suite for surgery and setup equipment and supplies for procedures.

Skills

Aseptic technique

Patient transport

Equipment setup

Infection control

Communication

Teamwork

Safety awareness

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

General Summary

This role supports a safe, clean, and well-prepared surgical environment by assisting with patient transport, specimen transport, equipment setup, and maintaining sterile conditions. Prepares operating rooms, manages supplies, and responds to emergent needs as directed. Maintains effective communication with patients, staff, and healthcare teams, and adheres to infection control protocols and safety standards.

Job Requirements

General Summary

This role supports a safe, clean, and well-prepared surgical environment by assisting with patient transport, specimen transport, equipment setup, and maintaining sterile conditions. Prepares operating rooms, manages supplies, and responds to emergent needs as directed. Maintains effective communication with patients, staff, and healthcare teams, and adheres to infection control protocols and safety standards.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Establishes and maintains courteous and effective relationships with patients, visitors, co-workers, and other members of the health care team; demonstrates sensitivity and awareness to the needs of patients, visitors and co-workers and responds promptly to verbal and/or written instructions.
• Transfers patient from bed, chair, wheelchair, OR table, or stretcher with devices in “locked” position.
• Uses appropriate body mechanics in moving, lifting and transporting surgical equipment and instrumentation.
• Transports surgical patients when other team members are not available.
• Transports and provides surgical instruments, equipment and supplies for surgical cases when needed. Assists in opening sterile supplies as directed by OR team.
• Assists in arranging the OR suite for surgery. Assists in the transfer of patients from stretcher to the operating room (OR) table. Under the direction of the circulating nurse, sets up equipment and supplies appropriate for the surgical procedure.
• Maintains cleanliness in assigned areas which includes operating room suites and sub-sterile areas, and other specified locations.
• Follows infection control policies and implements categories of isolation per departmental standard precautions and expanded precautions (i.e. contact, droplet, airborne).
• Applies aseptic technique when carrying out procedures or following unit protocols that require sterile conditions.
• Follows Hazardous waste precautions. Decontaminates furniture and equipment with appropriate solutions. Disposes of contaminated laundry, trash and suction material.
• Functions in the role of surgical support technologist using standards and recommendations as directed.
• Demonstrates aseptic technique using the standard Universal precautions. Maintains a sterile environment in accordance with aseptic techniques.
• Maintains patient safety during positioning including the lithotomy position, the prone position, and the lateral position.
• Anticipates equipment conflicts; respond to urgent and emergent needs with alternative solution to ensure surgical team and circulator supported throughout the case.
• Identifies Personal Protective Equipment and its indicated uses. Must wear appropriate surgical attire according to policy in (and out) of the surgical environment (i.e. hat, shoe covers, scrubs, etc.).
• Transports and receive specimens to/from the Laboratory department as needed (i.e. blood, blood products and pathology samples).
• Facilitates the transport and storage of sterile supplies, intravenous and irrigation fluids within the perioperative environment.
• Assists in the OR suite during various preparatory procedures (i.e. holding various limbs during prepping process and hair clipping). Assists with connection and operation of equipment before and after procedures.
• Assists staff in moving equipment and returning equipment to proper area of storage.
• Makes beds, replaces supplies and prepares equipment for next case. Prepares procedure room at the end of the day and returns it to ready status.
• Ensures patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in hospital, department or unit patient safety initiatives. Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety. Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority. Identifies possible risks in processes, procedures, devices and communicates the same to those in charge.

Work Experience

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent (GED) is required.
• One (1) year of previous experience as operating room assistant or hospital support services preferred.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of universal blood and body fluids precautions and aseptic technique
• Demonstrates knowledge of role in Operating Room emergency procedures (i.e. code, malignant hyperthermia, and fire).
• Highly effective verbal communication and interpersonal skills with patients, visitors, and other healthcare team members to establish working relationships that foster optimal quality of patient care.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patient population(s) served. Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and ability to assess data reflective of the patient's requirements relative to his or her population-specific and age specific needs.