As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, diversity, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

This position coordinates the daily activities of the other employees by monitoring performance, scheduling work shifts, coordinating and conducting training and in-services, monitoring quality control, and safety processes. This position has technical expertise for cleaning, assembling, and processing specialized instruments and medical supplies and serves as an expert in this arena. This position assists the surgical team by acting as the primary scrub technician who handles the instruments, supplies and equipment during surgical procedures. Incumbents maintain constant vigilance for the maintenance of the sterile field and are continually learning new techniques to better assist in specialty surgical services. The technician assists with maintaining equipment and instruments as well as with supply inventory. Based on your location, mandatory call, and holiday and weekend shifts may be required for all employees. This position is approved for use in designated specialties based on market standards. In addition to specialty functions, employee will perform all duties of Surgical Tech, Coordinator. This position may be required to access and administer medications within their scope of practice and according to state law.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

• Checks supplies/instrumentation and equipment needed for surgical procedures and ensures they are working properly.
• Opens sterile supplies and sets up the table for each surgical procedure.
• Provides a sterile field for surgical procedures. Ensures that the members of the surgical team are properly attired and assists the surgeon with draping the patient to isolate the operative site.
• Assists in the maintenance of the sterile field by applying principles of aseptic techniques and informing the surgeon/surgical team of infractions.
• Anticipates and passes instruments and supplies to the surgeon.
• Follows the perioperative count policy which includes counting sharps, instruments, sponges, etc. in collaboration with the circulating nurse.
• Knows what counted items are used at the sterile field.
• Cleans, wraps and prepares the instruments for sterilization.
• Assists in the maintenance of specialty surgical services.
• Prepares the sterile dressing for the patient's incision.
• Orients medical/nursing students and technologists to the unit.
• Assists in the development of unit goals/objectives, quality improvement and cost containment measures.
• Arranges for borrowing/lending of equipment as directed.
• Works closes with CNC over assigned specialty.
• Coordinates education specific to surgical techs for given specialty for in-service days.
• Coordinates the onboarding of new surgical technologists.
• Facilitates the coordination of equipment and staff resources to meet the needs of surgeons / patient cases.
• Coordinates materials and equipment trials.
• Addresses quality and safety concerns specific to surgical technologist practice.
• Participates in RCA process when necessary.
• Performs all duties of assigned specialty area including on-call specific to specialty area.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.

• Knowledge of medical terminology, physiology and anatomy.

• Demonstrated human relation and effective communication skills.

• Ability to identify to operating room staff when there is a break in the sterile field and take appropriate corrective measures.

• Ability to maintain a fast/rapid pace as well as working for multiple surgeons and anticipating their individual needs and preferences.

• Ability to ensure the proper care, maintenance and coordination of surgical instruments and supplies.

• Ability to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.

• Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.

• Demonstrated teaching and leadership skills.

• Demonstrated ability to function calmly and competently in high stress situations.

• Ability to balance clinical and leadership responsibilities.

Qualifications

Required

Completion of one of the following:

• An accredited surgical technologist program.
• A formal military training program as a surgical technologist.

One of the following:

• Equivalent of three (3) years of full time experience as a Surgical Technologist.
• Demonstrated competency to perform essential functions of a Cardiac Surgical Technologist/Neuro Surgical Technologist, with the ability to take subsequent call.

Position maybe be used for specialty technologists under the following conditions:

• Staff member must complete training/orientation for specific area of specialty.
• Staff member must be autonomous to take call. Specialty area has a closed call system of coverage.

Licenses Required

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.

• One of the following
  • Current certification as a Certified Technologist in Surgery (TS-C) through NCCT
  • Current certification as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) through NBSTSA.

* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves intermediate working conditions in a healthcare setting that may exert up to 50 pounds any may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving objects. The incumbent may face exposure to potentially dangerous contaminated body fluids, new and used needles, razor blades, knives, bone shavings, pieces of glass, and other contaminants as part of the daily hazards of the job and must wear protective attire at all times. The position also requires standing or walking for long periods of time.

Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Tasting or Smelling, Walking