Job Description

Job Summary
Full Time - Days

JOB SUMMARY
At Houston Methodist, the Lead Surgical Technologist position serves as a clinical resource/expert for Surgical Technology staff and creates an environment for the delivery of safe patient care and assists others in developing their skills and knowledge. This position requires proficient knowledge and skills necessary to carry out delegated tasks associated with the safe and efficient operating room support functions, anticipating the needs of the surgeon and nursing staff to support the patient during the surgical procedures. The Lead Surgical Technologist position reports observations and patient problems to the licensed nurse. The Lead Surgical Technologist position is responsible for assigned non-nursing functions and practices relationship centered care in concert with the Methodist Values. Other duties for this position include participating in the selection, training, education, development and evaluation of the Surgical Tech team, validating competencies of Surgical Techs prior to release from orientation, general patient care and department upkeep, as delegated by licensed personnel.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental Scope of Service and Provision of Care plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS
o Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
- INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
- COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
- ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
- RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
- EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.
o Focuses on patient/customer safety
o Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards
o Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)
o Intentionally rounds with patients/customers to ensure their needs are being met
o Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Job responsibilities labeled EF capture those duties that are essential functions of the job.

PEOPLE - 25 %
1. Promotes a positive work environment that actively assists interprofessional care team to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the interprofessional care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner. Teaches others to critically think by verbally expressing rationale for decisions and follows up consistently. Facilitates open, professional, communication to achieve mutual understanding, role modeling by example. (EF)
2. Independently and expertly executes the duties and responsibilities of preceptor and clinical resource, guiding and mentoring colleagues though processes in complex situations in order to provide optimal patient care. Provides structured feedback with examples. (EF)
3. Leads and initiates problem resolution within the work unit. Facilitates teamwork by anticipating the need for assistance and responding positively to requests for assistance. Makes contributions to the work effort as a whole. (EF)
4. Collaborates with management for improvement of employee satisfaction. Effectively supports management to implement protocols and objectives with team members to result in optimization of staff performance, teamwork, patient safety, and customer service. (EF)
5. Participates in the selection, training, education, development and evaluation of the Surgical Tech team. Validates competencies of Surgical Techs prior to release from orientation. Participates in staff evaluations by providing information regarding clinical skills, knowledge base and interpersonal skills. (EF)

SERVICE - 20%
1. Prepares room, equipment and supplies to accommodate planned procedures. Supports the physician with surgical procedures; anticipates the needs of the surgeon and nursing staff to support the patient during the surgical procedures. Assists with the care of instruments, equipment and supplies following surgical procedure. (EF)
2. Validates potential revisions and accurately updates physician preference cards. (EF)
3. Role models behaviors and skills, through peer-to-peer accountability, towards improving overall physician satisfaction for their department and patient satisfaction on unit-based scorecard. (EF)

QUALITY/SAFETY - 25%
1. Upholds established hospital and department policies, procedures, and standards as well as scope of practice for Surgical Techs. Reports observed variances in practices to department management. (EF)
2. Ensures implementation of evidence-based practices within the department. Participates in debriefing and quality improvement practices to ensure quality patient care. (EF)
3. Contributes to identification of corrective action and improvement activities, impacting quality and safety targets on the unit-based scorecard, through peer-to-peer accountability, reporting near misses, and collaborating with the interprofessional team. (EF)

FINANCE - 15%
1. Assists team members in maintaining inventories. Maintains efficient use of surgical supplies and minimizes opening of supplies until confirmation that will be used during surgery; does not waste supplies. Collaborates with physicians to identify cost-saving initiatives. (EF)
2. Organizes time effectively and sets priorities, minimizing incidental overtime. Utilizes time between heavy workloads efficiently and helps other team members. (EF)

GROWTH/INNOVATION - 15%
1. Collaborates with interprofessional health care team and initiates department process improvement. Serves on department and hospital committees, such as Shared Governance, Service Team Lead Committee, etc. (EF)
2. Assists management in evaluating and competency training of staff. Develops skills of team members and continually assists with improving skills, performance and outcomes. Partners with hospital Education to identify educational needs and develop Performance Improvement/Education plans in partnership with unit and hospital-based education specialists. (EF)

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
o High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)
o Successful completion of an accredited Surgical Technologist program or military training equivalency

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
o Five years of experience as a Surgical Technologist
o Experience in the role of a service line team lead or preceptor
o Served as a clinical resource for three or more years in surgical specialty service lines

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED
o American Heart Association Basic Life Support
o Certification by the Surgical Technologist Association, National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) or meet the grandfather clause.

Grandfather clause (Bill 643): The bill includes an extensive grandfather clause exempting all individuals employed to practice surgical technology in a health care facility before Sept. 1, 2009. The clarification notes that legislation does not state employed on Sept. 1, 2009, but rather before that date. A surgical technologist who was employed before Sept. 1, 2009, may remain employed as a surgical technologist without meeting the certification requirement.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED
o Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
o Demonstrates understanding of medical terminology
o Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
o Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
o Demonstrates expertise in a minimum of three surgical specialty service lines and serve as a clinical resource
o Demonstrates proficient use of procedure software; enters patient data properly
o Demonstrates proficiency in the surgical technologist role in the provision of surgical assistance during a variety of surgical procedures
o Demonstrates critical thinking, creativity and versatility in handling complex situations and problem solving. Calmly manages the most complex clinical and interpersonal situations. Recognizes when to utilize additional resources
o Demonstrates proficient knowledge of instruments sets, the use of the individual surgical instruments, surgical supplies and the use of the supplies
o Demonstrates appropriate skills of sterile technique. Demonstrates competency in decontamination and use of autoclave equipment
o Maintains appropriate continuing education requirements for certification in field of Surgical Technology

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Work Attire Yes/No
Uniform Yes
Scrubs Yes
Business professional No
Other (dept. approved) No

On-Call* Yes, on a regular basis (for Non-Exempt or Exempt jobs)

*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (i.e. Disaster, Severe Weather Event, etc) regardless of selection above.

Travel**
May require travel within No
Houston Metropolitan area

May require travel outside No
of Houston Metropolitan area

**Travel specifications may vary by department.

Please note any other special considerations to this job: __________________________



Equal Employment Opportunity
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor priority referral Protected Veterans requested.

Company Profile
Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital brings the expertise and compassionate care of Houston Methodist Hospital in The Texas Medical Center a national Honor Roll hospital to Bay Area communities. The hospital provides a broad spectrum of adult medical and surgical care, is an accredited chest pain center, and is also acute stroke-ready designated through DNV. Houston Methodist Clear Lake offers many inpatient and outpatient services including 3-D mammography and other state-of-the-art imaging, labor and delivery with a level II neonatal ICU, Cancer Center of Excellence, advanced laparoscopic surgery, comprehensive orthopedics and sports medicine, neurology, urology and otolaryngology. Also, Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital is honored to be the only hospital in the bay area to have a Grade A rating from Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grading.