Hospital - Endoscopic GI Tech

Job Description

The Endoscopic Gastroenterology Technician supports physicians and nurses during diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures. This role involves preparing and maintaining equipment, ensuring a sterile environment, and assisting in the safe and effective execution of procedures. Collaborates with the medical team to facilitate invasive and minimally invasive procedures, ensuring a safe environment, proper functioning equipment, and procedures are conducted in a manner that maximizes patient safety.

Responsibilities

• Prepare procedure rooms for endoscopic procedures, ensuring all necessary instruments, supplies, and equipment are available, sterile, and functioning properly.
  
• Assist gastroenterologists and nurses during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as colonoscopies, EGDs, ERCPs, EUS, and other GI-related interventions.
  
• Operate and maintain endoscopic equipment, including light sources, video processors, monitors, and suction systems, troubleshooting as needed.
  
• Handle and process endoscopic instruments according to infection control protocols, ensuring proper disinfection, sterilization, and storage.
  
• Label specimens accurately during procedures and hand them off to the nurse in the room, ensuring proper documentation.
  
• Monitor patient comfort and safety before, during, and after procedures, under the direction of licensed medical staff.
  
• Ensure compliance with hospital, departmental policies, procedures, and safety standards, particularly regarding infection control.
  
• Participate in inventory management, ordering, and restocking of supplies and equipment to ensure adequate stock levels.
  
• Assist with advanced endoscopic procedures, including ERCP, EUS, EMR/ESD, FNA, hemostasis techniques, and GI stent placement.
  
• Act as the primary scrub assistant during therapeutic procedures, including device exchange, scope reintroduction, and maintaining sterile fields.
  
• Operate and troubleshoot advanced GI technology, including endoscopy towers, CO2 insufflators, irrigation pumps, cautery units, and fluoroscopy equipment.
  
• Expertly clean, leak test, disinfect, and store scopes such as duodenoscopes, colonoscopes, gastroscopes, ensuring proper tracking using electronic systems.
  
• Performs all other duties as assigned.
  

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of infection control policies and aseptic techniques to maintain a sterile and safe environment.
  
• Knowledge of decontamination, packaging, and sterilization of instrumentation and supplies to ensure proper functioning and safety.
  
• Ability to demonstrate accountability for the patient care environment, including reporting malfunctioning equipment and ensuring patient safety.
  
• Ability to perform assigned patient care tasks under the supervision of a registered nurse and surgeon during procedures.
  
• Ability to assess and anticipate needed supplies for scheduled and emergent procedures, ensuring comfort and safety for patients and anticipating the surgeon's needs.
  
• Knowledge of how to prepare the operating room according to specific procedures, ensuring proper disinfection of equipment and furniture.
  
• Proficiency in exercising proper sterile technique, opening and arranging sterile fields in accordance with protocol for both routine and special procedures.
  
• Knowledge of how to utilize medical equipment and supplies efficiently, including tracking and restocking supplies, ensuring timely reordering and inventory management.
  
• Ability to assist in clearing the operating room between procedures, including proper disposal of contaminated items and cleaning instruments.
  
• Ability to participate in counts with the circulating nurse to ensure accuracy of surgical instruments and supplies.
  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with the surgical team and other healthcare professionals.
  
• High attention to detail and organizational skills, ensuring accurate preparation and maintenance of equipment and supplies.
  
• Ability to remain calm, focused, and efficient in a fast-paced clinical environment, troubleshooting minor malfunctions of medical equipment.
  

Required Skills

Previous experience asan endoscopy or surgical technician preferred. Knowledge of gastrointestinal anatomy and endoscopic procedures preferred.