Materials Manager Surgical Technician

Job Summary

The Surgical Technologist is a clinically competent technologist who is responsible for incorporating current knowledge with established surgical technologist practices in delivering compassionate care to each patient.

The Materials Manager shall be responsible for all aspects of material flow, from establishing par levels to appropriate and timely ordering, through the organization and maintenance of supplies for the facility. It is the responsibility of the Materials Manager to actively seek ways to control costs without compromising patient safety or quality of care, by reviewing contracts pricing, shipping costs, repair costs, and month to month expense management. The Materials Manager shall be responsible for the creation and maintenance of inventory par levels for supplies ordered within the facility as well as maintaining accurate inventory data through the inventory management program(s). The Materials Manager shall be the direct contact for most of the facility’s equipment and supply representatives and shall maintain a good working and positive relationship to help ensure the most efficient and cost-effective methods of obtaining the required equipment and supplies. The Materials Manager must work with the OR and Perioperative Managers as well as the Business Office and Sterile Processing Managers to ensure all departments within the facility are working towards the same purchasing goals. This position reports to the Director of Nursing.

Education and Experience

• BLS certification
• Either a graduate of an accredited School of Surgical Technologist, current CST certification, or at least 2 years of experience working as a Surgical Scrub Technologist.
• Knowledge and experience in Intraoperative care of the surgical patient
• Knowledge of Patient Rights
• Knowledge of facility and departmental fire safety regulations, electrical hazards, disaster plans, and infection control policies and their application
• Recognizes symptoms of cardiac arrest, respiratory distress and/or other impending crisis and initiates the necessary emergency action
• Knowledge of facility policies and procedures and the application and the function of other areas within the facility (See Policy and Procedure Manual)
• Knowledge of specialized equipment.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement principles of aseptic technique for surgical procedures
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the principals of surgical positioning
• Thorough knowledge of use and care of surgical instrumentation and surgical equipment
• Cost effective in the use of supplies and equipment
• Act as a team player: collaborate, communicate clearly and cooperate with other employees with focus on mission and goals of organization. All activities and duties support our mission and goals.
• Responsible for keeping current on continued education and facility in-services

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Experience in materials management/purchasing preferred

Principal Responsibilities

• Create, maintain and execute material logistic strategies to manage inventory and control excess
• Track and monitor the inventory throughout the receiving process
• Ensure proper stock rotation and outdate checks have been completed
• Unpack, receive, and stock all items ordered in a timely and organized manner
• Creation of purchase orders (POs) though the appropriate ordering software, for all items purchased
• Crosschecking approved PO to packing slips for accuracy of shipments upon arrival
• Approve invoices though verification that invoices correlate with packing slips and items received in both quantities ordered and pricing
• Verification that invoices correlate with original POs, notifying the facility Administrator of any discrepancies
• Resolve pricing discrepancies with vendors prior to invoice approvals
• Assist billing department to quickly submit invoices for payment
• Maintain a positive working relationship with facility and vendor reps
• Review surgery schedule and adjust stocking levels appropriately for changes associated with different procedures
• Maintain clean and organized receiving and stocking areas
• Monitor price changes and report to appropriate managerial staff including the CFO, Administrator and/or Department Managers
• Ensure all information within the inventory management program(s) are up to date and accurate at all times
• Work with Department Managers to find more cost-efficient options on supplies and equipment
• Keep positive working relationship with all vendors
• Appropriately notify Managers of all backorders, delays and discontinued items
• Absentees or tardiness shall be reported to the Director of Nursing
• Appropriately request for vacation or time away from work for personal illness, doctor’s appointments, or family emergencies for approval by the Director of Nursing
• Report to duty on time.

• Don proper OR attire.
• Wash hands with antimicrobial of choice
• Completes am and pre-procedure surgical scrub per policy
• Communicates problems with the patients and visitors, workflow, failure to understand directions or procedures, conflicts and other concerns encountered in the work day to the OR Nurse Manager/Director of Nursing.
• Identifies patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.
• Establishes a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.
• Works with sterile processing in the care and handling of sterile supplies, equipment and instrumentation when assistance is needed.
• Assures quality of care by adhering to the therapeutic standards; measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards; making or recommending necessary adjustments; following organization philosophies and other governing agency regulations.

• Wipe room furniture and equipment with antimicrobial before opening for the first case and after each case.
• Assemble the necessary instruments, supplies and equipment for the surgical procedure according to the surgeon’s request and the surgeon’s preference card.
• Open sterile supplies
• Assist with checking and maintaining the room equipment is in working order.
• Assist in moving the patient to the OR table and securing safety belt(s) as required
• Keep noise level and distractions to a minimum.
• Assist the anesthesiologist/anesthetist as needed.
• Complete count with circulating nurse, if applicable
• Perform skin prep, as appropriate for procedure.
• Assist in gowning and gloving the surgical team.
• Check medication name, dosage and expiration date with circulating nurse.
• Label all medications and solutions on the sterile field.
• Follows the principles of aseptic technique throughout the intraoperative period.
• Informs the circulating nurse of any additional equipment needs throughout the case
• Assists the surgeon throughout the case completing task appropriate for scope of practice.
• Assesses and anticipates supply needs. Inventories and orders supplies as needed.
• Cleans, dusts, mops and restocks rooms.
• Complete intraoperative counts per facility policies and procedures.
• Assist in draping of the sterile field using strict aseptic technique.
• Apply dressings, connect drains and cleans patient.
• Transfers patient to stretcher.
• Wash hands between cases and more often as needed.
• Set up for subsequent surgeries and perform OR terminal cleaning and restock supplies at the end of each day.
• During down time complete other duties as assigned.
• Restock ORs.
• Appropriate cleaning of room and equipment.

• Resolves patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment.
• Complies with all policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Reports off to the Nurse Manager or Supervisor at the end of each day.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and protects operations by keeping information confidential and only accessing information on a need-to-know basis to maintain patient continuity care.
• Ensures operation of equipment by following manufacturer’s instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; notifying supervisor of needed repairs.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies and maintain adequate CEU’s for re-certification (if needed).
• Maintains a cooperative relationship among health care team members by communicating information; responding to requests; building rapport; participating in team problem solving methods.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related tasks as needed.
• Understands and performs accurately responsibilities and duties assigned during Fire, Disaster, and Bomb drills and/or actual events.
• Abides by all regulatory agency guidelines including but not limited to OSHA, AHCA HIPAA, state and federal guidelines and laws delineating health care in the ASC environment, and reports issues of non-compliance matters to the Director of Nursing.

Physical and Mental Requirements

• Exert up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force constantly to move objects
• Ascending or descending using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility emphasized
• Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces; or maintaining body equilibrium when performing feats of agility
• Bending body downward and forward. The factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles
• Bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee or knees
• Bending body downward and for-ward by bending les and spine
• Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet
• Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction
• Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand or hands. Fingers are involved only to the extent that they are an extension of the hand
• Picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than the whole hand or arm as in handing
• Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture, by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips
• Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is important since workers must impart oral information to patients and/or other medical staff, including physicians. Must be able to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly
• Perceiving the nature of sounds. Must have ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sounds, such as those made by medical equipment
• Distinguishing, with a degree of accuracy, difference or similarities in intensity or quality of flavors and/or odors, or recognizing particular flavors and/or odors, using tongue and/or nose
• Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. Special and minute accuracy is demanded
• Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. Visual efficiency in terms of far acuity is required in various light conditions
• Three-dimensional vision. Ability to judge distances and spatial relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are
• Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus
• Ability to identify and distinguish colors
• Observing an area that can be seen up and down or right to left while eyes are fixed on a given point; Job performance requires seeing a large area while keeping the eyes fixed

Environmental Factors

The individual in this position will encounter a work environment as described below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• General medical and surgical environment
• The employee may be exposed to communicable diseases
• Safety precautions for employees such as blood drawing for screening of various diseases such as hepatitis, required immunizations, etc. are necessary
• The employee is occasionally subject to verbal abuse, threats, and physical violence from angry, hostile, or disgruntled patients and/or family members
• Lighting is adequate
• Temperature is regulated and moderate
• Noise level is generally moderate, but can escalate occasionally.
• Minimal dust
• Standard medical equipment, including x-ray accessible