Lead Surgical Technician-Specialty Coordinator - Medical Center/Main Operating Room - ECU Health

ECU Health

About ECU Health Medical Center

ECU Health Medical Center, one of four academic medical centers in North Carolina, is the 974-bed flagship hospital for ECU Health and serves as the primary teaching hospital for The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. ECU Health Medical Center has achieved Magnet® designation twice and provides acute and intermediate care, rehabilitation and outpatient health services to a 29-county region that is home to more than 1.4 million people.

Position Summary

Responsible for scrubbing, providing clinical expertise, guidance and mentoring of team members within assigned surgical specialties while optimizing available resources to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

- Additional Responsibilities: 

• Verifies that necessary equipment, supplies and case carts accuracy are available for daily procedures.
• Works closely with Sterile Processing Department (SPD) Surgical Technologist liaison to ensure appropriate supplies and instrumentation are readily available.
• Works closely with other team members, SPD and surgeons to ensure that instrument trays are adequately maintained.
• Provides performance feedback for team members in assigned specialties to Nurse Manager.
• Mentors and orients surgical technologist team members within assigned specialties.
• Advises the surgical team in areas of assigned specialties.
• Works collaboratively with RN Specialty Coordinator to promote process improvement initiatives within assigned specialties and department as a whole.
• Communicates and collaborates effectively with all members of the perioperative team and other stakeholders.
• Works with RN Specialty Coordinator and department educators to provide education and clinical work-shops within assigned specialties.
• Assists with coordinating, facilitating, and managing change within assigned specialties
• Uses effective problem solving and conflict resolution techniques when dealing with team members and stakeholders.
• Assists with managing assigned specialties operationally and fiscally by working closely with material management, purchasing and perioperative leadership.
• In collaboration with RN Specialty Coordinator, maintains accurate and up-to-date surgeon preference cards.
• Promotes and pursues professional growth and participation in a professional organization.
• Acts as a patient advocate and maintains privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.
• If in central sterile or sterile processing:
• Responsible for daily operations for designated shift which includes developing daily assignments, facilitating department work load, providing clear instructions and directions to staff.
• Responsible for ensuring all procedural instrumentation is collected, cleaned, decontaminated, assembled, sterilized and/or high-level disinfected within the guidelines of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)
• Ability to function as both a surgical scrub during operative procedures and sterile processing technologist within Perioperative Services. 
• Serves as a liaison between surgery and sterile processing by coordinating instrumentation availability, turnover, troubleshooting, repairs and quality monitoring for functionality.   
• Verifies that instruments are in open position, free form bioburden and functions properly prior to sterilization. Alerts supervisor if an instrument is in need of repair or replacement.
• Follows established manufacture INSTRUCTION FOR USE (IFU) when processing instrumentation. Alert supervisor if IFU's are needed.
• Maintains and monitors all required biological/chemical wash solution to ensure quality and consistency for decontamination of instruments.
• Documents and maintains appropriate sterilization records in accordance with AAMI and department policy. 
• Sorts mismatched sets of instruments to ensure availability and completeness of instrument trays. Informs supervisor when an instrument is missing or required to complete a tray. 
• Demonstrates proficiency with preparing procedure case carts with appropriate instruments and supplies needed per department schedule.  
• Maintains a clean organized work area within the department. Adhering to OSHA standards.
• Participates in departmental policies/procedures development, quality improvement projects, infection control practices, OSHA standards and MSDS awareness within the department.
• Communicates appropriately using good interpersonal skills with all internal and external customers.
• Completes all department required competencies including orientation and annual requirements.
• Participates in department continued education to foster an environment of proficiency in sterile processing.
• Leads and participates in in-services and educational offerings in the facility
• Promotes best demonstrated practices with co-workers through open communication and continuous improvement of skills.
• Follows chain of command within hospital regarding identified problems or issues to ensure proper communication and resolution.
• Maintains a professional relationship with all facility departments to ensure effective, efficient support to the patient caregivers.
• Answers and responds to calls from the OR and other end-users during assigned shift.
• Ensures timely delivery of sterilized instruments to appropriate storage location or end-user.
• Demonstrates and ensures proper care and handling of all hospital property including instrumentation, durable medical equipment and disposable supplies.
• Assists in providing timely resolution to facility issues or concerns.
• Extensive knowledge of instrumentation. Proven ability to act as a resource for staff in both SPD and OR regarding identification and assembly of specialty instrument trays.
• Established ability to complete complex tasks based on applied knowledge under minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated proficiency with all areas of sterile processing including decontamination, cleaning, assembly, wrapping, sterilization, and storage processes within all set professional standards and regulations.
• Able to work on complex and very critical processes and react to urgent needs to ensure OR needs are met - ability to delegate to technicians appropriately.
• Able to perform assembly on all instrument trays and sets with proficiency.
• Possess a detailed understanding of instruments and department equipment including special/complex set components.
• Ability to troubleshoot missing instrument replacements and anticipate tray needs for specials cases/unplanned cases.
• Ability to provide direction and manage the workflow in the department for other technicians.
• Completes documentation required by the hospital related to Standard Operating Procedures or facility policies.
• Acts as a mentor/coach to Surgical Procedure and Sterile Processing Technicians and may provide on-the-spot performance related feedback, when applicable.
• Participate in the development of in services and education for staff.
• Maintain and monitor departmental telephone during scheduled shift.
• Responsible for running SPM reports and educating staff and informing management of any discrepancies.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Promotes the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
• Acts as a clinical resource for surgical team members within assigned specialties using professional guidelines, evidence-based standards and best practice.
• Coordinates perioperative patient care in collaboration with other members of the surgical team.
• Collaborates and works closely with RN Specialty Coordinator to provide all resources necessary to deliver patient care within assigned specialties.
• Will serve in scrub role as directed by supervisor and department needs.
• Work under the supervision and authority of a surgeon to facilitate the safe and effective direct patient care.

Minimum Requirements

• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification (required for OR)
• Graduation from an approved Surgical Technology Program, Certification from a Military Program, Graduated from an accredited Nursing Program RN/LPN
• Minimum of two years within the surgical arena and surgical services experience in multiple specialties is required. 
• Certification in the field of Surgical Technologist required

Other Information

• 8 or 10 hour shifts available
• On Call, Weekends, Rotating Holidays 
• Career Growth Opportunities Available 
• Great Benefits 

General Statement

It is the goal of ECU Health and its entities to employ the most qualified individual who best matches the requirements for the vacant position.

Offers of employment are subject to successful completion of all pre-employment screenings, which may include an occupational health screening, criminal record check, education, reference, and licensure verification.

We value diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Decisions of employment are made based on business needs, job requirements and applicant’s qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information and testing, family and medical leave, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other status protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint.