Surgical Services Support Technician

UPMC; Harrisburg (Dauphin County); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

UPMC is seeking a Surgical Services Support Technician to assist nurses and clinicians, help maintain patient flow, and support the case flow within Surgical Services. The role emphasizes safety, cleanliness, and collaboration with the OR team, with responsibilities including equipment handling, patient positioning support, and adherence to policy and procedural standards.

This entry-level position requires a high school diploma and healthcare exposure or enrollment in a training program, CPR

Qualifications

• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
• High school diploma or equivalent with 1 year of healthcare or customer service experience or enrollment in a healthcare training program with at least 1 clinical rotation completed.
• Microcomputer experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish effective communication strategies with staff and patients.
• Support change within the department to improve patient care and efficiency.
• Assist with patient care tasks under RN supervision, following policies and procedures.
• Maintain safety and cleanliness of the department and OR areas.
• Assist with patient positioning and transporting specimens to the lab.
• Prepare and arrange instrument trays, check for broken instruments, and coordinate with SPD.
• Communicate with anesthesia and OR staff to prioritize daily OR assignments.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Healthcare experience

Microcomputer experience

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Healthcare training enrollment with clinical rotations

Tools

Software/IT basic skills

Job description

The Surgical Services Support Technician may perform assigned tasks which directly contribute to the care of patients and other patient related services as directed and under the supervision of a Registered Professional Nurse or Clinician. Provide support to the staff to facilitate the case flow within Surgical Services.

Responsibilities:

• Establish appropriate and effective communication strategies.
• Suggest and support change within the department/organization.
• Perform patient care skills working with preceptor (RN) in a safe manner according to policy and procedure.
• Constructively receive feedback and direction.
• Identify and communicate learning needs to their preceptor.
• Demonstrate awareness of the impact of his/her behavior on the efficient functioning of the department/organization.
• Seek out appropriate nursing, physician or other health care team intervention.
• Take action to improve knowledge, skill and performance based on feedback or on self-identified developmental needs.
• Maintain an environment conducive to patient safety and recovery including but not limited to: completing safety checks, keeping the department and OR rooms clean and organized, cleaning department specific equipment, changing bed linens, emptying linen hampers, keeping hallways clear of equipment and returning equipment.
• Assist with patient positioning under the supervision of an RN.
• Assist with transporting specimens to the lab.
• Assist with opening supplies and equipment to establish a sterile field.
• Assist with care, cleaning, and maintenance of all specialty equipment, including, but not limited to, lasers, video towers, microscopes, positioning supplies.
• Assist nurses with the set-up and ordering of instrument trays. Check daily with SPD for broken instruments, and incomplete trays.
• Effectively communicate with anesthesia and operating room staff to assure daily operating room assignments are prioritized at the start of each shift. Remains accessible in operating rooms at all times.
• Assist to move patients on and off bed in the OR suite.
• Perform assigned work in a timely and productive manner.
• Strictly adhere to all policies and practices relative to patient care and hospital related information.
• Comply with safety policies and procedures including standard precautions.
• Ensure equipment malfunctions are reported to the appropriate department.
• Identify need and/or provide patient/family education.
• High school diploma or equivalent with 1 year of experience, preferably within a customer service or healthcare role. -OR-Enrollment in any healthcare training program that requires clinical rotations with at least 1 clinical rotation completed.
• Microcomputer experience preferred.
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.
• Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran