Orthopedic Technician

Description

Under general supervision, to assist physicians by carrying out orders for application, modification, and removal of splints, casts, and traction and by assisting with insertion and removal of pins, reduction of bone fractures, and external fixations.

Final Filing Date

The recruitment may be extended or closed as early as 10 days after issue date.

The Power of WE

Together, we can make a greater impact. Bringing better care and expanding healthcare services across the community.

About Santa Clara Valley Healthcare

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the second largest public health care system in California and includes four acute care hospitals, 14 clinics and 60+ specialty and sub-specialty services. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County.

Locations

• Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC): Full-service tertiary acute care teaching hospital with 699 licensed beds providing a wide range of specialized services, including Rehabilitation, Burn, Trauma, and NICU. Ranked #6 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation and #1 in the West.
• O'Connor Hospital (OCH): 358 licensed bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to residents of Santa Clara County. Founded in 1889.
• St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH): 93 beds, Designated Primary Stroke Center, and the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, SLRH maintains a CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter base on the premises.
• Regional Medical Center (RMC): 258-bed hospital that is the main emergency healthcare provider for East San José, treating a wide range of critical and life-threatening conditions for more than 60 years. Since the SCVH integration of RMC effective 4/1/25, RMC has expanded critical services including Level II trauma, Thrombectomy capable Stroke Center and STEMI care, and has been seeing an increased number of emergency visits and inpatient volume.

Typical Tasks

• Greets and explains splint, cast, or traction procedures to patients;
• Applies a wide variety of splints, casts, soft goods, and traction to patients on the basis of physicians' orders;
• Sets up traction for transporting patients to other departments;
• Evaluates the condition of casts or splints and repairs or replaces them as appropriate;
• Bivalves, univalves, and removes all types of casts following physicians’ orders;
• Performs cast wedging per physicians’ orders;
• Inspects cast-related wounds on request and removes staples and stitches as ordered;
• Prepares patients, sets up equipment and medications, and assists physicians in inserting and removing pins, reducing fractures, and performing external fixations;
• Instructs patients regarding cast care, ambulation limitations, walking with crutches, dressing wounds in casts, and identifying symptoms of problems with casts;
• Identifies problems with casts and makes repairs as needed;
• Observes the condition of patients and informs the physician if relevant to the procedure being contemplated;
• Makes appropriate charges for traction and equipment and returns equipment not currently in use;
• Orders supplies and equipment;
• Makes appropriate documentation for patient care, billing, supplies, and equipment;
• Assists in carrying out orders in the Emergency and Operating rooms as requested;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required*
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Education and Training

• Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:
• Training and Experience: Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through one (1) year of full-time experience working or being trained as an orthopedic technician OR Successful completion of a recognized course program evidenced by a certificate as an Orthopedic Technician.

Special Requirements

• Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work.
• If driving, possession of a valid California driver’s license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.
• *As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help. A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Of types of casts, splints, and traction devices and the specific conditions for which each is used;
• Methods and techniques of applying, modifying, repairing, and removing a complete range of casts and splints;
• Methods of setting up and adjusting a complete range of traction devices;
• Safety protocols, including sterile and aseptic techniques;
• Safety procedures;
• English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;
• Common computer systems and applications.

Physical Requirements

• Stand and sit for long periods of time and exercise a moderate amount of physical exertion, stamina, and manual dexterity in the handling of patients and equipment;
• Assist, support, lift, and transfer patients in a safe manner.