Surgical Specialist, Dermatology

Position Summary

To provide surgical expertise to the department of Dermatology for all sterile processing, sterile technique for surgical procedures, and preparation of surgical equipment needed to perform surgical procedures in the department of Dermatology.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned.

The Mohs Medical/Surgical Technician is to help the licensed medical doctor in multiple settings including the clinic and outpatient surgical settings. They are to provide safe, knowledgeable, compassionate individualized care to all patients. Responsible for the following, based on the needs of the organization.

• Rooming patients: Accompanies and/or assists patients to the exam room in a professional manner
• Responsible for clinic patient flow, informing physicians of patients’ arrival and room assignment
• Serve as a patient advocate during the patient exam, surgery, and treatment
• Interview surgery patients to obtain medical information
• Measure patients’ vital signs, weight, and height
• Show patients to examination rooms, procedure rooms, or operative rooms, and prepare them for the physician
• Review a surgical informed consent with the patient before their procedure
• Record patients’ medical history, medications, allergies, vital signs, and test results in an Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Set up a sterile surgical tray
• Inspect sterile items before opening
• Open sterile surgical items in a sterile fashion
• Lay supplies out on a sterile field in an organized manner
• Place surgical gloves on hands using a sterile technique
• Assist the physician during surgery while maintaining a sterile field
• Assist surgeon during cauterization
• Know the difference between thermal cautery and electrocautery, and which one is preferable in various patient situations so the correct device can be prepared in a clean/sterile fashion
• Properly numb a patient’s skin using topical anesthetics as directed by the physician
• Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician following safety protocol of right dose, right patient, right route, right drug and noting expiration date
• Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing
• Explain surgical/treatment procedures, medications, diets
• Explain wound care instructions and physicians’ instructions to patients
• Explain and comfort patients with regards to expected healing times for various types of wounds and locations (i.e., know that flaps/grafts take longer to heal than regular excisions and have slightly higher complication rates, know that wounds on the lower extremities may take longer to heal than wounds on the face or upper body, etc.)
• Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments and materials or performing such tasks as giving injections and removing sutures
• Know how to clean surgical instruments, wrap them in sterile packs, and place them in an autoclave. Prepare sterile packs for specific procedures. Strict adherence to sterile processing, high disinfection techniques, labeling of surgical equipment, monitoring equipment integrity, quality check sterilization equipment, and ensuring surgical equipment and packs have been properly sterilized and stored.
• Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms organized, neat, and clean
• Assess the patient’s condition throughout the exam, procedure, or surgery according to the facility’s policies and notify the physician and/or RN of any indication of distress
• Responsible for cleaning room and medical equipment between each patient and at the end of the day
• Correctly disposes of infection waste and biohazard materials
• Schedule appointments for patients: including surgery appointments (Mohs surgery, excisions) and clinic appointments (wound checks, Mohs consultations, suture removals, etc.):
• Have basic medical and surgical knowledge as it relates to Dermatology and Mohs surgery
• Know what various blood thinners are
• Know the basic difference between a pacemaker and a defibrillator
• Know the different types of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, other) and how they pertain to Mohs surgery vs excision
• Know basic external anatomy of the head and neck (for example, know that the nasal sidewall is on the nose, the conchal bowl is on the ear, the occipital scalp is on the back of the scalp, etc.)
• Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests, admission, or collaborative surgical care (for example, coordinate care with ENT if the patient is having Mohs surgery with our team and repair/closure by a local ENT physician)
• Change dressings on wounds and place a good pressure bandage after Mohs or excisions
• Inventory and assess the need for instruments, supplies, and equipment while keeping the room fully stocked (daily)
• Inventory and order medical supplies (monthly) and ensure all equipment is in proper working order
• Perform accurate documentation of all procedures promptly. Input information efficiently into the EHR (we currently use Modernizing Medicine - EMA)
• Maintain adaptable and functional computer skills
• Respond to emergencies based on nursing standards, policies, procedures, and protocol by knowing equipment and supplies and being familiar with their location
• Performs other duties as assigned

EQUIPMENT SECTION

• Must be competent in High-Level Disinfecting and Sterilization of instruments and equipment.

ADMINISTRATIVE

• Takes inventory of supplies, equipment, and medications
• Ensures clinical areas are well stocked
• Ensures expiration dates have not lapsed
• Monitors sterilization process and performs quality checks/spore testing with autoclave process
• Communicate problems and concerns to supervisors
• Regularly attends staff meetings and huddles
• Copying/faxing
• Reports equipment problems
• Provides excellent customer service by demonstrating positive behaviors towards

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Diploma from the completion of a Medical Assistant program from an accredited institution.

Licensure

• Current and valid certification or registration as a Medical Assistant.

Experience

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in General and Cosmetic Dermatology, including lasers (i.e. hospital, or physician’s office).

Physical Requirements

• Walk, bend, twist, and reach above the shoulder frequently in an office setting.
• Must be able to occasionally lift or carry and frequently push or pull up to 20 lbs. as part of the role
• Regularly exposed to healthcare settings that may require personal protective equipment
• Requires manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, calculator, copier machine, and other equipment.

About GW MFA

MFA physicians provide comprehensive patient care, offering one practice for the whole person with 52 medical and surgical specialties. As members of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences faculty, MFA providers are teachers and mentors for medical students, residents, fellows, and researchers preserving the rich tradition of academics, research, and healing. In addition to maintaining a closely integrated alliance with The George Washington University and The George Washington University Hospital (GWUH) which is separately owned and operated by Universal Health Services (UHS), the GW MFA has active referring relationships with 12 area hospitals.

The GW MFA’s leading healthcare presence in the DC metro region is complemented by a network of community-based practices in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Given its geographic location in central NW Washington, DC, and proximity to more than 175 resident embassies, the MFA continues to evolve its international clinical outreach.