Surgery Sterile Processing Assistant

About the role

Austin Veterinary Emergency & Specialty (AVES) is expanding its team to accommodate the growth of its departments, including the addition of a new Oncology Cancer Center. We are seeking a Surgery Sterile Processing Assistant to join our dedicated team.

Responsibilities

• Assist in pack prep with cleaning and sterilizing instruments.
• Wrapping and organizing surgical instruments.
• Assist with surgery laundry.
• Prepare lab samples for outgoing laboratories.
• Convey information in an accurate and professional way.
• Invoicing/preparing estimates.
• Admitting/Discharging patients.
• Assist Technicians when transporting patients to CT or procedure, radiology or recovery. Help with moving the patient and attaching monitors to the patient.
• Assist doctors in exam rooms by escorting clients to exam rooms, obtaining patient’s history from clients and recording it on patient’s medical record, obtaining and recording patient’s temperature and weight, assist doctor with patient’s examination.
• Help with end of day duties.
• Aid in keeping patients clean and dry at all times.
• Clean the radiology suite (between patients and daily cleaning of the floor, and areas around the table, shelf, and computer).
• Help Technicians and Doctors with outpatients or patients being discharged. This may include patient restraint, assisting with bandage changes, checking hygiene of a patient before it leaves or assisting clients with a patient.
• Restrain for various procedures, treatments, and exams.
• Assist Technicians with placing a patient under anesthesia. This includes, but is not limited to: patient restraint, hooking up monitoring equipment, vacuuming during prep/shave of patient, and sterile prep.
• Recognize the limits of your knowledge. If you are not absolutely confident that you know the answer to a client’s question, do not answer it. Ask another staff member for help.
• Prepare appointments for next day with necessary records.
• Make notes in patient files or the computer record of all relevant phone or in-person conversations with clients. Initial all entries.
• Help maintain anesthesia machines and monitors.
• Access digital radiographs utilizing Qlink software.
• Operate portable and stationary digital radiography units.
• Accurately record, maintain and review medical records by recording daily treatment plans (including nights, weekends and holidays), all diagnostics, patient progress notes and recording services or goods on the medical record with attached fees for invoicing.
• Communicate patient status to doctors, other Technicians, and clients.
• Report all service and maintenance issues on all equipment in Internal Medicine, Surgery, ICU, kennel and pharmacy including but not limited to: Idexx chemistry machines, oxygen/environmental cage and heated cages to the Tech Lead/ Supervisor.
• Aid other PCP’s when necessary.
• Prepare for next days treatments by restocking supplies in Central Sterile, OR’s, Induction, or any other area of the hospital that is needed.
• Prepare patients for discharge, being especially careful to ensure that patients being discharged are well-groomed and in a medically appropriate state.
• Maintain cleanliness and order in all areas of the hospital.
• Perform daily and weekly cleaning duties.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of customer service experience in a medical setting is required.
• Veterinary experience is preferred.
• A solid employment history with proven reliability.
• The ability to work independently while being self-driven and eager to grow.
• A proactive mindset, always looking for process improvements and opportunities for collaboration to streamline operations.
• Fluent English skills (speaking & reading) are required for the role; fluency in multiple languages a plus!