Surgical Care Assistant - OR Support Staff - Mount Sinai Hospital - Part-Time Weekends - 3:00PM-11:30PM

The following are specific guidelines for the functioning and responsibilities of Surgical Care Assistants assigned to the Operating Room/Post Anesthesia Care Unit/Preoperative Services.

1) Care of Scrub Areas and Clean Utility Rooms:

A. Replenish and arrange neatly scrub brushes, hoods, caps, masks and booties.

B. Maintain cleanliness of shelves, work counters and utility carts.

C. Maintain blood bank and drug refrigerators:

    a) Check and record temperature of medication and nourishment daily.

    b) Check blood bank and drug refrigerator daily.

    c) Defrost refrigerator and clean thoroughly once a week.

D. Maintain of solution and warmer cabinets.

    a) Replenish and arrange neatly blankets, gowns and sheets.

    b) Replenish, date and rotate stock levels of solutions.

    c) Remove solutions on the hand written date.

    d) Clean warmer cabinet once weekly.

2) Decontamination of Surgical Equipment according to Infection Control Guidelines:

A. Distribute processed instrument sets, equipment and supplies in appropriate work and storage area.

B. Keep containers and storage areas clean and in proper order; clean shelves weekly and as often as necessary.

C. Maintain and change gas cylinders.

D. Maintain cleanliness of counters and work areas.

3) Care of Special Surgical Equipment, Instruments and Supplies:

A. Monitors par levels and replenish stock.

B. Ensures all operating rooms have basic equipment i.e. (RF, Huntleigh, Mayo Stand, back table, ESU, Buckets)

C. Provide surgical equipment upon surgical team request

4) Care of Soiled Utility Rooms:

A. Maintain cleanliness and orderliness of shelves, drawers, counters, suction bottle liners, etc.

B. Check and replenish stock levels of specimen containers, disinfecting solutions, plastic bags, cleaning supplies etc.

5) Maintenance of Unsterile Linen Supply and Storage Areas:

A. Damp dust storage shelves for unsterile linen as often as is necessary.

B. Distribute equal supply of patient gowns, blankets, sheets and wrappers in all storage areas; fold and arrange neatly.

6) Maintenance of Floor Stock, Equipment, Supplies and Solutions:

A. Maintain cleanliness, organization of stock room, equipment room and other storage areas.

B. Check and distribute supplies from General Stores in appropriate storage areas.

C. Accept delivery of pharmacy solutions and supplies and distribute to all appropriate storage areas.

D. Ensure all tanks of compressed gases are secured by approved methods

E. Maintains prep supplies for assigned rooms.

7) Care of Specimens:

A. Routine specimens: Ensure to document in the marble book and log book when the specimen is sent out of the specialty area.

B. Frozen section specimens:

    a) Take frozen section specimens immediately to Pathology Department, stamp the pathology form and notify the pathologist the specimen is there.

C. Specimens for Radiology:

    b) Take specimen to Radiology Department for X-ray.

    c) Take specimen to Pathology Department for frozen section following completion of x-ray.

8)Patient Care

A. Performs vital signs as assigned.

B.Is open and responsive to the diverse backgrounds and experience of other people and promotes an environment that is sensitive to cultural diversity.

C. Utilizes correct body mechanics in transport and moving of patients.

D. Communicates with patients and family members with a respectful and caring manner.

9) Transportation of Patients:

A. Transport the pre-operative patient to the holding area or appropriate surgical suite or procedure room.

B. Take pre-operative patient from patient holding or to the assigned O.R. Assist in moving, positioning, and patient safety as needed.

C. Provide recovery room bed with 02 for each patient; checks 02 tank is at least full.

D. Assist in moving the post-operative patient to the appropriate post-operative area.

E. Assures availability of all equipment appropriate for transport of patient.

10) Transportation of Blood, and Other Errands Outside the Operating Room:

A. Transport blood and or blood products to and from the surgical suite as directed by the surgical team member.

B. Transport blood specimens and other stat specimens to the appropriate laboratory or send VIA Pneumatic system as directed by the surgical team member.

11) Care of Stretchers/Wheelchairs

A. Clean stretcher with appropriate solution and change linen after transporting each patient

B. Clean all parts of all stretchers, including the base and wheels with appropr