Surgical Technician - U.S. Air Force Academy

SUMMARY

Assists Lead Technician in the day-to-day operations of the clinic and the work of the Polysomnographic technicians.  Responsible for assisting Lead Technician in the management of support staff and ordering and maintaining supplies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides surgical patient care activities.
• Transports patients, and related records to and from the OR and recovery room.
• Helps with routing medical materiel management activities.
• Accomplishes routine safety checks and operator preventive maintenance on fixed and moveable medical equipment and fixtures.
• Performs routine and specialized housekeeping activities.
• Assists anesthesia personnel with patient positioning and anesthesia administration.
• Applies principles of asepsis, infection control, and medical ethics.
• Assists with terminal cleanup of OR and prepares for follow-up procedures.
• Receives, decontaminates, and cleans soiled patient care items.
• Assembles, wraps, and sterilizes instrument sets, supplies, and linen packs. Stores, maintains, and distributes sterile patient care items.
• Assists the circulating nurse with preparing records, reports, and requests. Prepares specimens for transport to the laboratory.
• Performs scrub duties in the Operating Room. Scrubs hands and arms and dons sterile gown and gloves. Prepares and maintains sterile instruments, supplies, and equipment of draped tables and stands. Counts sponges, needles, instruments, and related items with circulating nurse before, during, and after surgical procedures. Assists the operative team with applying sterile drapes to the surgical field. Passes instruments, sutures, and other supplies to the sterile operative team. Anticipates surgeon’s needs, and provides additional assistance as directed. Cares for surgical specimens on the sterile field. Cleans and prepares instruments and reusable supplies for terminal sterilization and decontamination.
• Performs recovery room or basic nursing duties. Assists surgeon and nursing staff with monitoring and recording vital signs. Administers oxygen, helps arouse patient, and carries out surgeon’s post-operative orders. Assists with identifying and managing of postoperative complications.
• Performs general clinic functions. Prepares patients, instruments, supplies, and equipment for specialized procedures in the OR and specialty clinics. Assists specialty surgeon during surgical and diagnostic procedures. Assembles, operates, and maintains diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. Orders diagnostic laboratory and radiographic procedures as directed. Performs activities unique to specific surgical clinics.
• Assists nursing staff with preoperative patient preparation activities.
• Attends in-service training in new procedures, techniques, and equipment.
• Prepares OR for surgery by setting up and opening sterile supplies and instruments.
• Maintains regular and punctual attendance.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be knowledgeable in fundamentals of anatomy and physiology; principles of asepsis and sterile techniques; preparing and storing surgical sets and packs, surgical instrumentation, and equipment; OR and anesthesia procedures; pathology as it applies to specimen care and handling; basic microbiology and infection control principles; basic surgical pharmacology; sterilizing and disinfecting procedures; surgical and anesthesia complications and their treatment; hospital and OR environmental hazards and safety procedures; handling and storage of compressed gases; basic medical material procedures; basic medical administrations procedures; legal aspects of preoperative care and medical ethics; roles and qualifications of surgical team members; and basic clinical functions.
• Completion of an accredited surgical service and clinical course.
• Completion of a surgical technologist program recognized and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
• Have at least twelve (12) months of experience within the last thirty-six (36) months as a surgical services technician.
• Must have and maintain current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Red Cross.  This certificate must be current at all times.
• Must obtain and maintain the site's required health screening and immunization requirements.
• Must obtain and maintain any necessary security access and/or background checks.
• Must obtain and maintain all required documents, certifications, licenses, etc. listed on the credentialling checklist, sent by Katmai’s Credentialing Specialist, for this position for initial hire. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• Ability to effectively read, write and speak English in order to communicate with all patients and other healthcare providers.
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with a diverse group of people for the purpose of informing the healthcare team of plans/actions, for teaching/education to benefit the patient/family and organization. 
• Excellent written communication skills to perform accurate documentation, both written and electronic, of all activity in accordance with requirements.

WORK SCHEDULE

Full-time. May be required to work additional hours as needed to complete assignment or project.

TRAVEL

All Market contractors are subject to working at a duty location at any of the Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) or associated sub clinics within the Colorado Military Health System (CMHS).

DRIVING REQUIREMENTS

Must have or be able to attain a valid state driver’s license and be insurable on the company’s automobile insurance policy. Driving may be required when traveling and/or short occasional amounts of local driving. The expected driving time is less than 10%.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed primarily indoors at a well-lit military treatment facility such as a clinic, outpatient facility or hospital.  The environment is normally air conditioned, but conditions may change dependent upon circumstances.  Work may need to be performed in a fast-paced environment requiring quick thinking and rapid judgements.  Employee will be exposed to a wide variety of clients in differing functions, personalities and abilities.  Exposure to bloodborne pathogens and bodily fluids, latex, radiation or other contaminants and safety issues.  May be exposed to infection or diseases from contact with patients.  Work is highly social with patients and can be stressful with a high emotional element.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Position consists of sitting for long periods of time, using hands/fingers, handling, reaching with hands and arms, speaking, or translating.  Periods of walking, standing, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, and lifting boxes weighing up to 30 pounds.  Moderate to extended periods of office work with heavy periods of computer usage. It is Katmai’s business philosophy and practice to provide reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Pay is: $31.90 to $36.83 per hour.
• Eligible Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Group Term Life & AD&D Insurance, Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurances, Voluntary Long-Term & Short-Term Disability Insurance, Dependent Spouse Life Insurance and Dependent Life Insurance, Prescription Drug Coverage, Hearing Coverage, 401(k) Savings Plan, Employee

Compliance:

To be considered for this position, all applicants must apply on the company website,  https://katmaicorp.com/life-at-katmai/

We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, marital status, familial status or any other characteristic protected by law. https://katmaicorp.com/life-at-katmai/#equal_opportunity Preference will be given to Ouzinkie Shareholders, Descendants of Shareholders and Spouses of Shareholders in accordance with Title 43 U.S. Code 1626(g) and Title 42 U.S. Code 2000e - 2(i).

Executive Order 11246, as amended, protects applicants and employees from discrimination based on inquiring about, disclosing, or discussing their compensation or the compensation of other applicants or employees.