At Houston Methodist, the Sr. Anesthesia Technician (AT) position is an experienced Tech who provides support to the anesthesia providers and other members of the interprofessional health care team. This position is fully competent regarding anesthesia, all anesthetizing locations, anesthesia supplies, and other related equipment ensuring that assigned locations and items are ready, available and in good working condition at all times. The Sr. AT position works independently, exercising sound judgement and executing above average clinical skills necessary for assisting with anesthesia-related procedures, troubleshooting of anesthesia-related equipment, and set up, operation and initiation of patient monitoring in all anesthetizing locations e.g., OR, Cath Lab, Endoscopy, etc., as well as, in perioperative units, post anesthesia care units, and intensive care units as deemed necessary or as assigned. This position serves as a mentor to Anesthesia Tech's, utilizing skills and knowledge, helping to train and orient others.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic, team-focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the patient care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and date in a comprehensive manner.

• Role models, by example, open, professional communication to promote both work efforts and problem resolution and achieve mutual understanding. Works well with others to make contributions to the work effort as a whole and facilitates problem resolution.

• Guides and mentors AT's and participates in training of other team members to help build confidence in skills, knowledge, and abilities.

• Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Initiates recommendations for improvement of department scores for employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Independently and competently performs anesthesia support activities in all monitoring and including but not limited to operating rooms, catheterization laboratories, intensive care units, and other patient care areas where anesthesia is performed.

• Assists the anesthesia providers and other members of the patient care team as needed in the provision of patient care before, during and after procedures.

• Serves as point-of-care testing super user for different modalities, as applicable.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures equipment is clean and disinfected in work areas between patients, following infection control standards and department procedures.

• Actively participates in organizing the workflow, problem-solving, and managing multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision.

• Identifies opportunities for corrective action and process improvement providing recommendations and contributes to meeting departmental and hospital targets for quality and safety. Reports ¿near misses¿ and inputs error promptly into TAPS to improve processes and identify trends.

• Serves as resource and trainer for staff in anesthesia support activities such as but not limited to reprocessing flexible scopes and TEE probes in accordance with standards.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures anesthetizing areas and anesthesia services workstations are put back together, organized properly, and ready for use as soon as possible after each case. including, but not limited to, keeping monitor cables stored neatly, ensuring that anesthesia gases are turned off, unused supplies are restocked properly, and equipment are put back in designated places.

• Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime, assisting coworkers as needed.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in committees and task forces as assigned, ensuring that critical objectives are clearly explained, and action items are appropriately performed. Follows up on action items as necessary to ensure completion of assignments.

• Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as a Technician. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Associate degree in Anesthesia Technology with certification or Associate degree in equivalent health-related field if no certification with Grandfather clause: The ASATT governing body has an extensive grandfather clause exempting all individuals employed to practice anesthesia in a health care facility before June 17, 2015. An anesthesia tech who was certified before June 17, 2015, is recognized as an anesthesia tech without meeting the education requirement of the certification
  

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Must meet one of the following: two years of Anesthesia Tech experience with ASATT certification OR three years of Anesthesia Tech experience with an Associate degree in a health-related field if no certification OR five years Anes Tech experience if no degree and no certification*
  

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA) AND
• Cer.A.T. - Certified Anesthesia Technician (ASATT)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Ability to work independently; capable of handling challenging/difficult procedures and patient care situations. Demonstrates sound judgment, demonstrates time management skills and executes above average clinical skills

• Possess basic computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems to include, Hospital/Anesthesia Information Systems and Microsoft Office products to maintain patient documents

• Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers

• Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision including, organizing workflow, and actively participating in problem-solving

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional No
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025, will be Houston Methodist's ninth hospital and will incorporate the most advanced technology available from the day the doors open. With 100 beds (at our opening; licensed for 276) and a prime location in the heart of the rapidly growing U.S. 290 corridor, the hospital will be equipped with technologically advanced innovations implemented during COVID, many of them designed to make patient communication with physicians, staff and families the very best and most effective in any health care facility. Even though the hospital won't be fully operational until 2025, we have several services and specialties opening in 2024.