At Houston Methodist, the Lead Anesthesia Tech (AT) position functions as the lead person and performs lead job duties and/or regularly leads projects or performs specialized responsibilities as a regular part of their normal job responsibilities. In addition to the lead responsibilities, this position also functions at a Sr Technician/Technologist level. The Lead AT position serves as the liaison between management, staff, and physicians for routine matters, as the primary point of contact for resolving questions and issues for the AT and Sr AT jobs as well as support staff, resulting in the delivery of exceptional patient care and adherence to standards of practice for optimal patient safety, quality outcomes, and customer service. Duties for this position may be varied and may include the following: organizes work schedules, assigns work, reviews time cards for accuracy, conducts quality assurance audits of staff performance, develops and implements quality improvement activities, trains and mentors staff, provides feedback on staff performance and developmental needs, participates in the development of skills and performance of staff, leads and regularly performs special projects, collects/analyzes/reports on data, prepares reports on performance and metrics, and other responsibilities of a similar nature and level.

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

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

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Orients, guides and mentors team members consisting of ATs and Sr. ATs and support staff, to help build confidence and competency in skills, knowledge and abilities. Serves as a 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.

• Role models to team members effective active listening and communication skills, assisting in their development of such skills. Promotes a positive work environment and leads the team to be a dynamic and focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results.

• Effectively implements protocols and objectives with team members to result in optimization of staff performance, teamwork, patient safety, and customer service. Provides feedback to management on team member performance and conduct. Offers direction and develops skills of team members and continually assists with improving skills, performance, and outcomes. Leads initiatives for improvement of department scores for employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Works independently, exercising sound judgment and executing above average clinical skills on challenging anesthesia procedures, patient care situations and in all monitoring and anesthesia.

• 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 liaison between team members, management and physicians, resolving routine matters. Assists physicians during procedures.

• Organizes the workflow, pro-actively problem-solves, anticipating needs, managing multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision. Contributes towards improving department score for patient satisfaction.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitors the cleaning and disinfecting of equipment and work areas between patients following infection control standards and department procedures.

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

• Conducts quality audits on equipment, processes, outcomes and team member performance. Documents, develops and evaluates processes and procedures.

• Assists with implementation and education of department-based safety initiatives, standards of practice and protocols. Develops skills of team members and continually assists with improving skills, performance and outcomes.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures that anesthetizing areas and anesthesia services workstations are put back together, organized properly, and ready for use as soon as possible after each case, 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 and provides leadership to team members on effective and efficient utilization of time, minimizing incidental overtime. If assigned, accurately reviews team members' timecards for management approval.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Fosters a positive and constructive teaching environment by engaging co-workers (AT's and Sr. AT's) in learning opportunities that are valuable and in alignment with business objectives.

• Actively participates in department and/or hospital committees and task forces, 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/Technologist. 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 Technologist program OR Associate degree in an 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

• Five years' experience as an Anesthesia Tech to include experience in a lead/supervisor capacity; if HM employee, four years Anesthesia Tech experience of which one year is a HM Sr Anesthesia Tech with demonstrated progressive leadership abilities

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

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

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

• Possesses basic computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems to include, Hospital/Anesthesia Information Systems and Office software to maintain patient and exam documents

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

• Exhibits strong interpersonal, teamwork and leadership 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 Willowbrook Hospital opened in December 2000 to serve the comprehensive health care needs of the growing community in Northwest Houston.  The 310 bed hospital has 23 operating rooms, and more than 2,100 employees.  Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has been named a Magnet recognized health care facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®. Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital is Northwest Houston's regional leader in robotic minimally-invasive surgeries and specializes in cardiology and cardiovascular services, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, and comprehensive cancer services. Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has a Breast Care Center, Cancer Center, Imaging Center, Infusion Center, Sleep Center, Surgical Weight Loss Center and operates the largest Childbirth Center in the greater Northwest Houston area.