Ambulatory Tech 1

About the role

The University of Rochester is committed to the values of equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive community where everyone can thrive.

Responsibilities

• Assists providers during exams under general direction from Nurse Leader, Nurse Manager, or designee.
• Performs clinical tasks in support of patient care in outpatient clinics, including technical, procedural, and information systems tasks.
• Anticipates provider needs and adapts to patient complexity during exams.
• Attaches patients to diagnostic and medical equipment such as dynamapp, pulse oximeter, EKG, cardiac monitor, and pneumatic tourniquet.
• Provides information, comfort, and care to patients by explaining next steps and systems status.
• Ensures supplies and equipment are readily available for smooth operations and patient safety.
• Gives patients provider’s pre-printed discharge instructions.
• Anticipates and ensures correct supplies are available in each exam room at all times.
• Assures equipment/supplies are available based on individual provider preferences.
• Responsible for efficient room utilization and minimizing patient wait times.
• Escorts patients from the waiting area to exam areas.
• Obtains vital signs and performs diagnostic testing and specimen collection per provider order.
• Accurately labels, logs, and processes specimens according to protocol and laboratory policies.
• Enters patient data, condition, and care given into the electronic medical record system.
• Maintains adequacy of clinical equipment and medical supply levels, including reordering, stocking, and cleaning.
• Conducts inventory of supplies, monitors expiration dates, requisitions needed supplies, and tracks utilization for cost trending.
• Makes recommendations to decrease costs in equipment and supply use.
• Implements standard infection prevention measures, including hand hygiene and contact/isolation precautions.
• Monitors infection prevention practices for breaches and suggests corrections.
• With RN oversight, precepts new Ambulatory Technologists, providing detailed orientation and ensuring competence.
• Performs administrative duties as assigned, which may include scheduling and registration.
• As a Surgical Procedure Assistant:
  • Assists providers with patient processes.
  • Prepares rooms and instrumentation for procedures.
  • Provides basic instructions to patients regarding procedures.
  • Anticipates provider needs during procedures and obtains additional instrumentation as needed.
  • Accurately prepares and labels specimens for the lab.
  • Dresses wounds at the completion of procedures.
  • Checks and calibrates equipment according to protocol.
  • Sets up sterile fields and prepares instrument trays for procedures.
  • Sterilizes instruments and reviews discharge instructions with patients as prepared by the provider.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent plus one year of experience in a customer-focused/service setting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Associates degree preferred.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, procedures, and computer experience preferred.

The Ambulatory Technologist position operates within a career ladder with three bands differentiated by job code, level of independence, supervision required, specialty skill set, and ability to precept new employees and lead departmental goals:

• Band One (I): Entry Level
  • New to URMC, requires training and regular direct supervision.
  • Orientation to department infrastructure, policies, protocols, workflows, and routines.
  • Must demonstrate ability to progress toward proficient performance of required tasks.
  • Independent responsibility for daily functions, specimen handling, and computer work.
• Band Two (II): Competent
  • Demonstrates proficiency with minimal supervision.
  • Serves as a preceptor for newly hired technologists.
  • Attention to detail in daily tasks and participation in unit safety goals.
  • Minimum of 6 months of progressively responsible professional work experience in an ambulatory clinic setting required.
• Band Three (III): Expert
  • Subject matter expert in downtime procedures and super-user for new equipment or programs.
  • Mentors new technologists and anticipates provider needs.
  • Troubleshoots departmental issues and represents the department on committees.
  • Prepares the department for internal service, NYS, and TJC evaluations.
  • Minimum of 1 year of progressively responsible professional work experience as an ambulatory technologist required.

Eligibility for advancement requires the technologist to be in good performance standing. Movement to a higher band is based on departmental need and requires final approval from the Ambulatory Nursing Director in collaboration with Human Resources. External hires with appropriate credentials and experience may enter the ladder at Band Three for lead roles if needed.