Surgical Assistant

Department

BSD ORT - Clinical Support

About the Department

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Chicago consists of 27 full time faculty members. Each faculty members brings with them expertise on a wide variety of Orthopaedic problems including: Bone and Soft Tissue Cancer, Bone Health and Fragility, Bone Infection Care, Foot and Ankle Care, Fracture Care, Hand and Wrist Care, Hip Care, Knee Care, Pediatric Orthopaedic Care, Shoulder and Elbow Care, Spine Care and Sports Medicine. Advanced Practice Providers are an important part of the care team and work as independent providers as part of our subspecialty teams.

Job Summary

The job takes comprehensive medical histories from patients and performs physical exams with a moderate level of guidance and direction. Administers or orders diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests. Performs basic and minor surgical procedures. Provides physicians with assistance during surgery or complicated medical procedures to expand upon current knowledge and acquire higher-level skills.

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine is looking for a Surgical Assistant to join our team. Responsibilities include ability to participate in and actively assist the surgeon in completing the operation safely and expeditiously by helping to provide exposure, maintain hemostasis, and other technical functions in our Hyde Park Location. This role will work collaboratively with surgeons, fellows, residents, APPs, nurses and scrub techs. Surgical Assistants (SAs) must meet national standards and be credentialed by the appropriate local authority. The ideal candidate is passionate about the Orthopaedic field and about providing exceptional patient care.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate the ability to communicate the surgeon's preferences and specific patient's needs to surgical team including but not limited to suture needs, specialty supplies and instrumentation, patient records and equipment.

• Verifies all implants, supplies and special procedure equipment is available and functional. (i.e. microscope, tourniquet, etc.).

• Facilitates a cooperative team atmosphere through professional communication.

• Listens actively to surgeon, patient, and team to ensure safe patient-centered care.

• Maintains awareness of patient monitoring and responds appropriately to potential complications.

• Monitors the actions immediately surrounding the sterile field ensuring that the integrity is maintained and/or corrected appropriately.

• Evaluates potential causes of surgical site infections, communicating concerns and possible corrective actions to prevent and/or treat potential contamination.

• Verifies patient identification, allergies, NPO status, procedure, surgical site, consent, history and physical on chart.

• Demonstrates ability to perform a surgical skin prep selecting the correct prep for the situation and preparing the appropriate surgical prep site necessary.

• Coordinates the draping procedure effectively correcting any breaks in aseptic technique.

• Secures lines and cords in a manner that prevents loss of integrity.

• Evaluates and incorporates products to ensure effective barriers are established and maintained that prevent contamination during the entire procedure.

• Utilizes the OR equipment pertinent to the surgical procedure. All actions shall facilitate the progress of the surgery, as well as anticipate the preference(s) of the surgeon.

• Any further applicable instrumentation or actions deemed necessary by the surgeon.

• The surgical assistant should be proficient in all pertinent abilities required during a procedure.

• Participation in volume replacement or autotransfusion techniques as necessary and appropriate.

• Any further applicable instrumentation or actions deemed necessary by the surgeon.

• The surgical assistant should be capable of working independently, or codependently with the surgeon, to finalize the surgery, according to the surgeon preference.

• Initiates appropriate actions or instrumentation in collaboration with the surgeon.

• Utilizes appropriate suturing techniques, according to surgeon preference, with closure of body planes and utilizing proper manipulation of suture.

• Uses running, or interrupted suture techniques Including absorbable and non-absorbable sutures, staples, adhesives, strips, etc.

• Provides healthcare and patient services including educational, research, and clinical nursing specialist support. Gathers pertinent health information and provides comprehensive direct patient care with moderate guidance and direction from others.

• Participates in the identification of individual patients for surgery. Provides the appropriate preparation of the patient for surgery and assists in expediting surgery in the OR. Monitors the clinical progress of surgery patients on a routine basis during their hospitalization.

• Performs necessary record-keeping, analysis, and reporting of clinical outcomes. Assists the care team with patient counseling in adapting to, and coping with, their changing health status. Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, environmental, and infection control standards.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• College or University Degree from a surgical technology programs accredited through ARC/STSA, or an accredited Surgical First Assist training program (NBSTSA-National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting).

• Certification is conferred by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

• Graduation from a CAAHEP-accredited school of surgical assisting.

• Passing of national Certified Surgical First Assistant examination.

Experience:

• 2-5 years of prior surgical experience.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Certification from an accredited First Surgical Assistant Program.

• Registered by the State of Illinois.

• American Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR card.

Preferred Competencies

• Knowledge of medical terminology.

• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with patients, families, and staff from diverse backgrounds.

• Broad based knowledge of advanced concepts in operating room practices and of the operating room.

• Demonstrates ability to administer local anesthetic, according to surgeon preference.

• Demonstrates ability to secure drainage systems.

• Demonstrates ability to apply dressings, splints, casts and immobilizers/stabilizers, according to surgeon preference.

• Collaborates with others to provide continuity of care.

• Demonstrates the ability to provide postoperative skills in patient care such as dressing application, patient transfer and transport, transfer of care, and monitoring for immediate complications.

• Demonstrates safe stabilized placement on the appropriate bed/table, with the appropriate operation, set up, safety measures, and utilization of all necessary equipment, stabilizers, padding, wrapping and/or attachments.

• Demonstrates competency in all positioning techniques for the surgeries they are participating in.

• Demonstrates the ability to provide preoperative skills such as assessing patient information, history, preoperative tests (i.e. EKG, EEG, EMG, lab values, diagnostic imaging), safety measures, biopsy results, positioning and draping.

• Demonstrates the ability to provide intraoperative skills such as visualization, trocar insertion (i.e. ASA Trocar Guidelines), injection of local anesthetics (i.e. ASA Local Anesthetic Guidelines), hemostasis, tissue handling, placement and securing of wound drains, and closure of body planes.

• Knowledge of and use of any and all laparoscopic and robotic equipment necessary for a procedure, such as: Camera, light cord, inserting/removing trocars, graspers, scoops, sprayers, suction/irrigation systems, clamps, tenaculums, etc.

• Knowledge of and use of any open procedure equipment necessary for procedures, including, tissue forceps, retractors, clamps, scissors, sponges, suction, irrigation, use of hemostatic agents, etc.

Working Conditions

• Clinical Setting /pre operative/post operative area, Operation Room.

• Must be able to move or assist with moving operating room equipment and transferring patients.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Healthcare & Medical Services

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Pay Frequency

Biweekly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

Yes

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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