SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST TEAM LEAD

Independence Health System Inc.; Latrobe (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Independence Health System Inc. seeks a Team Lead in the Operating Room to serve as the scrub member of the surgical team under the supervision of a registered nurse and surgeon.

The role requires lead responsibilities, collaboration with physicians and clinical staff, and commitment to patient safety and infection control.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of Surgical Technologist.
• 1–3 years’ experience as a Surgical Technologist.
• Strong leadership, organizational skills, independent thinking, sound judgment and liability knowledge.
• Ability to communicate complex topics to a diverse audience.

Responsibilities

• Assist with surgical procedures as scrub member under RN and surgeon.
• Collaborate with team to maintain service line excellence and efficiency.
• Prepare sterile setup, obtain instruments, and coordinate with Central Service.
• Ensure patient safety, infection control, and accurate documentation.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Critical thinking

Judgment

Communication skills

Legal aspects awareness

Education

Graduate of an accredited Surgical Technologist program

Job description

The Team Lead assists with surgical procedures in the Operating Room as a scrub member of the surgical team under the direction of a registered nurse and a surgeon.

Essential Job Functions

• Collaborates with Surgeon, Clinical Specialty Coordinator, Supervisor, and Director to develop service line goals including: Doc preference cards, efficiency metrics, orientation assistance, and overall service line excellence
• Delivers direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital/departmental policies, procedures, protocols and/or their professional standards of care.
  • Works directly with the RN to develop and implement an individualized, age-specific plan of care and evaluate its effectiveness.
  • Assists the RN in reassessment of the patient's condition and takes appropriate action as indicated or by unit specific policy.
  • Involves the patient/family and other health care providers when appropriate.
  • Completes patient care related activities within schedule time periods.
  • Complies with completeness, accuracy and timeliness of documentation on O.R. Count Sheet as well as Surgical Site Identification/Verification Checklist.
• Maintains a collaborative relationship with physicians and other health care providers to achieve desired patient outcomes and assure a continuous flow of patient care.
  • Communicates pertinent information for interdisciplinary patient care conferences, shift reports.
  • Reports changes in the OR schedule, including the need to reassess the needs of the physicians or the OR staff, confers with the OR CNC when there is a need to alert the physician.
• Participates in the unit performance improvement activities designed to enhance the quality of patient care and customer services.
  • Assists in data collection process as requested.
  • Recommends modifications for performance improvement.
• Demonstrates leadership abilities by utilizing the concepts inherent to the practice of the credo standards.
  • Demonstrates an ability to solve problems independently and seeks assistance from immediate supervisor when appropriate.
  • Maintains accountability for actions taken.
  • Effectively functions as a resource person.
  • Acts as a patient advocate.
  • Performs effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires and/or students.
  • Assists in maintaining/decreasing organizational/department costs.
• Assists in the department's compliance with State, JCAHO, OSHA and other regulatory agencies.
  • Participates in preparation for continuous survey readiness for inspections and surveys.
  • Adheres to the infection control process, including universal precautions, to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting infections.
• Provides for patient safety in compliance with hospital and nursing department policies.
  • Utilizes two forms of patient identification before implementing any form of patient care.
  • Assumes appropriate code team role during code situations, including internal and external.
• Functions as the scrub member of the surgical team.
  • Obtains necessary instruments and supplies from Central Service.
  • Performs duties/responsibilities as a central service technician as necessary or assigned.
  • Arranges sterile setup for each specific operative procedure coordinating with surgeon preference, especially within the cardiac surgical specialty.
  • Updates cardiac physician preference cards.
  • Assists in moving, lifting and positioning the patient.
  • Identifies patient appropriate surgical procedure and site by following policy for the surgical site ID.
  • Assists the surgeon in performing the surgical procedure.
  • Handles specimens appropriately.
  • Performs OR counts accurately and takes appropriate action in response to incorrect counts.
  • Maintains the ability to adapt to the changing needs of the surgical team.
  • Assists with the cleaning and setting up of surgical cases.
  • Follows the principles of asepsis, reporting any breaks in aseptic technique and rectifying the situation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competency and Experience [Knowledge, Skills and Abilities]

Required Qualifications/Experience

• Graduate of an accredited school of Surgical Technologist.
• One (1) to three (3) years’ experience as a Surgical Technologist.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience