Ambulatory Endoscopy Technologist - Surgery Center, Specialty Gastroenterology at CHRISTUS Health

Provides direct and indirect services to the GI patient under the supervision of the professional nurse and performs tasks as necessary for the efficient and effective functioning of the GI room, as well as the delivery of quality of care. Responsible for the preparation, maintenance, and cleaning of equipment and supplies and may assist in performing invasive endoscopic procedures.

Responsibilities:

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
• Supports and assists physicians and registered nurses with procedures as directed.
• Verifies proper equipment functioning and performs safety checks.
• Maintains endoscopic equipment and prepares broken scopes to be sent for repairs.
• Collects and delivers specimens collected during procedures, ensuring the field remains sterile.
• Assist with placing monitors on patient.
• Distributes information regarding equipment or instruments at in-service training sessions.
• Validates and refreshes basic professional skills through active participation at in-service trainings.
• Reprocessing endoscopy scopes per ANSI/AAMI Standards
• • proper endoscope handling
  • procedures for leak testing, cleaning, inspecting, disinfecting, sterilizing, packaging, and storing each specific endoscope make and model, including equipment and equipment connections
    
  • identification of items that are single use and intended to be discarded after use;
  • all aspects of decontamination (e.g., disassembly, manual and mechanical cleaning methods and how to monitor their effectiveness, microbicidal processes, equipment operation, inspection, standard precautions, and engineering and work practice controls);
  • the operation of the specific manual and mechanical cleaning processes and equipment, manual and mechanical HLD processes, and sterilizing systems used by the health care facility, and the methods and equipment used to verify operation
  • facility and processing area policies and procedures regarding high-level disinfection and sterilization, infection prevention and control, attire, hand hygiene, and compliance with local, state, and/or federal regulations;
  • workplace safety related to chemical use and biological hazards
  • OSHA standards and requirements;
  • Applicable personnel exposure monitoring specific to chemicals used;
  • Recognizing and responding to exposure-related symptoms (e.g., difficulty breathing, skin irritation, eye tearing, mucous membrane irritation);
  • Location and correct use of PPE;
  • Location and use of SDS;
  • Location and use of chemical spill kit(s); and
  • Workplace-specific policies and procedures related to endoscope processing, high-level disinfection, and sterilization;
  • the process of leak testing when indicated in the manufacturer's written IFU;
  • the process of obtaining and documenting quality control monitoring results;
  • the process for visual inspection of endoscopes using lighted magnification and the use, care, and handling of a borescope;
  • the process for cleaning verification procedures, including method(s) for conducting the testing and interpreting the results; and
  • the process for removing a damaged endoscope from service and sending it for repair.
• Sterilizes and prepares rooms and equipment, such as scopes, before and after procedures as directed.
• Demonstrating understanding of the patient’s an atomy and abnormalities which could affect the procedure.
• Recognizes emergent situations during endoscopy procedures and demonstrates the ability to set priorities to assist the endoscopy team.
• Assists with therapeutic interventions such as balloon dilations, polypectomy, sphincterotomy, stent placement, and gastrostomy tube placement.
• Coordinates review of special-order supply inventory and ensures rooms are stocked for next day procedures.
• Independently completes annual competencies and any additional competencies related to new procedures.
• Bloodborne Pathogen Classification: Category 1-Occupational exposure
• Action oriented - Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Collaborate- Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Customer focus- Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Basic understanding of practices and concepts related to endoscopy procedures.
• Nimble learning- Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.
• Demonstrates self-awareness- Using a combination of feedback and reflection to gain productive insight into personal strengths and weaknesses.
• Communicates effectively- Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Decision quality- Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Maintains established departmental and facility policy and procedures.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Must also successfully complete the pre-employment/post job offer health screening examination, and the annual screening each year thereafter as an employee.

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• 0 - 1 years of experience preferred
• Preferred previous experience working in the Operating Room or Endoscopy Unit preferred.
• BLS (American Heart Association) required
• SGNA Certification within 6 months of hire required