Anesthesia Tech

About the role

Assists the anesthesia provider. Prepares operating rooms for surgery. Provides technical services and assists in operating room, emergency room and other departments as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives and adheres to department policies, procedures, quality standards and safety standards.
• Complies with governmental and accreditation regulations.
• Assists the anesthesia provider in preparing patients for anesthesia.
• Thoroughly cleans anesthesia gas machines and ventilators at least once per week.
• Assures that all gas machines are surface‑cleaned daily.
• Assures that special carts and trays are thoroughly cleaned at least once per week.
• Maintains Anesthesia Work Room and other storage areas in a clean and organized manner.
• Assures that soaking solutions are replaced according to protocol.
• Assures that reusable equipment such as LMA are properly sterilized.
• Inspects each anesthetizing location to assure the presence of all designated equipment at the beginning of shift.
• Inspects special carts and trays daily to assure that they are properly supplied according to the stacking lists.
• Replaces equipment as needed.
• Keeps supervisor informed of unusual loss or breakage.
• Assures that supply inventory is organized and clearly labeled.
• Assures that stacking lists are kept current.
• Recommends changes in inventory par levels and items based on current usage.
• Assists in periodically reviewing and updating supply requisition forms.
• Requisitions supply order on a weekly basis being current with the computer program for supplies (MSN).
• Requisitions outside orders after consulting with supervisor.
• Assures that adequate supplies are distributed to designated areas.
• Maintains copies of supply requisition and log of MSN requisition numbers and submits to supervisor at month end.
• Performs annual inventory in conjunction with supervisor.
• Maintains Anesthesia equipment.
• Cooperates with Clinical Engineering in maintaining established P.M. inspections.
• Routinely checks condition of equipment such as NIBP cuffs, EKG cables and leads, oximeter probes, temperature cables, warming blankets, pressure infusers, etc., and effects minor repairs or parts replacement.
• Performs daily battery checks on battery‑operated equipment.
• Keeps supervisor informed of equipment problems.
• Makes rounds in special units to collect Anesthesia equipment.
• May be responsible for listing readings for chemical and blood warmer thermometers, reporting results to blood bank and maintaining monthly quality check on blood warmers.
• May function as a Care Associate/CNA providing direct bedside care to patient under the supervision of a Registered Nurse as required.
• Stays familiar with and meets the standards of a Care Associate.
• Provides relief coverage for Care Associates.
• Participates in training and orienting new Care Associates.
• In conjunction with OR Supervisor assigns daily work assignments to OR Care Associates.
• Assists the OR Care Associates with the more complex Anesthesia cases.
• May assist in the training of new anesthesia technicians and CNA students.
• May provide clerical support to Anesthesia Office: types correspondence and reports, photocopies information, maintains department records, reports and files, answers the telephone, directs calls, takes and delivers messages, ensures that office supplies are organized at the end of the day shift.
• Opens sterile supplies and sets up for procedures.
• Cleans room equipment and stretchers using proper asepsis techniques.
• Cleans and prepares rooms between procedures and after terminal cleaning.
• Discards used disposable anesthesia equipment in the appropriate manner.
• Participates in multidisciplinary quality and service improvement teams.