SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANT

Insight Hospital and Medical Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare institution in Chicago seeks a Surgical First Assist to aid in advanced intraoperative support. Responsibilities include collaborating with surgical teams, improving processes, and performing technical functions during surgeries. Candidates must have a CSFA or similar credential and 3–5 years of surgical experience across various specialties. This role emphasizes innovation, efficiency, and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of surgical experience required.
• Strong understanding of sterile technique and surgical instrumentation.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate technology into surgical practice.

Responsibilities

• Performs functions as a Surgical First Assist under surgeon's supervision.
• Collaborates on new technologies and performance improvement initiatives.
• Assists surgical team with patient transport and care coordination.

Skills

Surgical experience

Advanced proficiency in multiple specialties

Excellent problem-solving skills

Interpersonal communication

Education

Certified Surgical First Assist (CSFA)

Physician Assistant (PA-C) / RNFA credential

Job description

The Surgical First Assist (SFA) is a highly skilled, clinically proficient professional who works directly under the supervision of the attending surgeon to provide advanced intraoperative support. This role extends beyond traditional assisting — it requires a forward-thinking mindset focused on innovation, efficiency, and collaboration across the surgical continuum. The SFA serves as a key resource in developing and implementing process improvements, integrating new technologies, and advancing surgical outcomes. Clinical skills performed under direct supervision of the surgeon include but are not limited to: incision, dissection, clamping, cutting, tying, providing hemostasis, insertion of laparoscopic ports, and closure of body planes & skin.

The SFA collaborates closely with all surgical team members to facilitate throughput and optimize safe patient care. They may function in the scrub role for a variety of surgical procedures as needed.

Responsibilities

• Clinical Excellence & Intraoperative Support: Performs all functions of a Surgical First Assist including exposure, hemostasis, suturing, tissue handling, and wound closure under the surgeon’s direction; anticipates surgeon needs throughout each procedure, ensuring instruments, supplies, and devices are ready for immediate use; maintains sterile technique and ensures patient safety and positioning integrity at all times; proactively identifies opportunities to improve case efficiency and instrument utilization.
• Innovation & Process Improvement: Collaborates with surgical leadership and vendors to trial new technologies, instruments, and minimally invasive techniques; participates in multidisciplinary performance improvement initiatives, including reduction of turnover times, standardization of instrument trays, and cost-efficiency efforts; contributes to digital documentation workflows, assisting in implementing systems that optimize case tracking, inventory, and data analytics; provides feedback on new devices or methods that enhance precision and patient outcomes; serves as a clinical mentor to surgical technologists, residents, and nursing staff; participates in orientation and education of new team members and cross-trained staff; engages in continuing education to stay current on advancements in surgical techniques and perioperative best practices; promotes a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and patient-centered innovation; partners with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and perioperative staff to coordinate and execute high-quality surgical care; assists in the preparation for surgical cases, assuring that supplies, equipment and instruments are available and in working order prior to the start of each case.
• Team Coordination & Patient Care: Assists the surgical team in the transport, transfer and positioning of patients in the operating room; participates in pre-op briefings and post-op debriefings to evaluate case flow and identify improvement opportunities; assists in maintaining supply and equipment inventory; communicates proactively and professionally across the care team to ensure seamless patient experiences; on-call duties as scheduled; other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Qualifications: Certified Surgical First Assist (CSFA), Certified First Assistant (CFA), or Physician Assistant (PA-C) / RNFA credential required; minimum 3–5 years of surgical experience; advanced proficiency in multiple specialties preferred (e.g., Orthopedic, Neurosurgery, General, or Robotics); strong understanding of sterile technique, surgical instrumentation, and anatomy; demonstrated ability to integrate technology and process improvement into practice; excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Preferred Attributes: Passionate about surgical innovation, data-driven improvement, and interdisciplinary collaboration; actively participates in surgical committees, vendor evaluations, or technology trials; forward-thinking, self-directed, and capable of balancing clinical precision with creativity; experienced in EMR documentation, efficiency dashboards, or digital workflow initiatives.
• Performance Metrics: Case efficiency and surgeon satisfaction scores; reduction in intraoperative delays and supply waste; participation in innovation or quality improvement projects; contribution to staff development and cross-training success rates.

Education and Experience

• Certified Surgical First Assist (CSFA), Certified First Assistant (CFA), or Physician Assistant (PA-C) / RNFA credential required.
• Minimum 3–5 years of surgical experience; advanced proficiency in multiple specialties preferred (e.g., Orthopedic, Neurosurgery, General, or Robotics).

Insight Employees are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment, subject to accommodation for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.

Insight is an equal opportunity employer and values workplace diversity!

Disclaimer: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of functions, tasks, duties, responsibilities and requirements of employees so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of Insight Hospital and Medical Center.