Certified Anesthesia Technician

Job Summary

The Certified Anesthesia Technician works under the direction of the Department Administrator or designee in accordance with the legal scope of competency and within established standards of care, policies and procedures. Cleans, prepares for sterilization, assembles, stores and maintains equipment and supplies for the Anesthesia Department.

Essential Responsibilities

• Performs daily maintenance and quality control of anesthesia machines. Performs quality control on anesthesia machines, tests for leaks, verifies anesthesia machines function, and troubleshoots as necessary. Performs cleaning, sterilization and decontamination of all non-disposable anesthesia related items - anesthesia machines, scopes, tubing, etc. Inspects instruments and equipment for damage and initiates appropriate repair and replacement process. Completes and maintains monthly logs regarding maintenance and cleaning and quality checks of anesthesia equipment. Ensures availability of backup monitoring equipment at all times and provides timely replacement as needed.
• Assembles basic anesthesia set up; performs anesthesia equipment turnover; verifies and sets-up age-specific equipment. Selects type of breathing circuits, bags, IVs - performs age-related assessment for anesthesia equipment needed.
• Assists with patient transport to PACU/ICU including preparation of oxygen source and transport monitors. Coordinates patient monitoring and equipment availability with PACU and Critical Care Units. Assists with patient transport to the operating room, including placement of patient on the OR table and non-invasive monitors (NIBP, EKG, SpO2 temperature).
• Assists in direct patient care under direct supervision in routine and emergency situations: arterial line, central venous pressure line, Swan Ganz, cardiac output, fiber optic intubation and regional nerve block. Holds patients when patient is getting epidurals.
• Appropriately set up room based on procedures.
• Assembles Arterial Lines, Hotline (IV Fluid Warmer), Level One Rapid Infuser. Processes scopes. Assembles four different models of anesthesia machines. Prepares anesthesia procedure trays as requested. Meets annual competencies.
• Assists with set-up of invasive monitoring equipment in routine and emergency situations: arterial line, central venous pressure line, Swan-Ganz, cardiac output, fiber optic intubation and regional nerve block. Assists anesthesia provider with induction of anesthesia, including cricoid pressure for intubation as directed.
• Provides supplies needed for general/regional anesthesia; keeps anesthesia equipment supplies stocked. Maintains adequate stock of supplies in anesthesia machines and carts, including rotation and replacement of dated items. Maintains adequate stock of supplies in emergency code blue boxes, malignant hyperthermia carts, difficult intubation carts, invasive monitoring carts, regional anesthesia carts as listed on cart inventory, pediatric carts, vascular carts, central venous carts, MRI carts, GI carts, Epidural Cart, Neuroblock cart. Coordinates with pharmacy to maintain stock, return and replace all outdated items except controlled drugs.
• Interacts with patients family members, external vendors when new product introduced.
• Removes and disposes all supplies and equipment following procedures performed by anesthesia providers. Prepares and processes all anesthesia-related items that require disinfection, decontamination and sterilization. Coordinates with Environmental Services for prompt operating room turnaround time.
• Picks up and delivers lab specimens, ABGs etc.
• Coordinates with Unit Manager, if applicable, to maintain and revise inventory par levels for all supplies and equipment.
• Assists with orientation, education and in-services as requested by management and co-workers.
• Promotes, ensures, and improves customer service to internal/external customers by demonstrating skills which are consistent with the organizations philosophy of providing extraordinary customer relations and quality service.