What Role Does the Surgical Tech Play in a Medical Clinic?

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The definition of a medical clinic can change from one city block to another. Some clinics only do patient assessment like family checkups and sore throats and runny noses. But, there are medical clinics that actually do outpatient surgeries. No matter how small the procedure, there is always a need for sterile technique. Most surgery technologists work in hospitals, while a smaller percentage find work with a dental office, medical clinic, or with a private surgery team.

Surgical Techs

Surgical techs are the backbone of any surgical arena. They are multifaceted and can perform a vast array of duties in any medical clinic. Training for surgical techs is intense and stressful. But, this extensive training allows the techs to function well under pressure and bring a sense of calm confidence to any operating area.

Plastic Surgery

Most people wouldn’t believe the amount of plastic surgery centers around the world. These exist because plastic surgeons, especially of the cosmetic variety, like their own particular instruments, suture, and other supplies that hospitals may not be willing to make available. Much of these specialty items are expensive and difficult to get. The surgical tech has a wonderful understanding of how surgeries should go and they become the physician’s right hand man.

Plastic eye instruments, rhinoplasty instruments, and hand instruments are truly delicate and need extremely special care. Handling and sterilizing these specialty items are usually left to the surgical tech. These techs may also be in charge of ordering supplies, sterilization of instruments and other supplies, monitoring sterility indicators and making sure all incubators and other equipment is working.

Dental Clinics

You may also find a scrub tech in dental clinics, passing instruments to the oral surgeon for deep cleanings, arch bar application or removal, sterilization of dental instruments, and passing out toothbrushes when the patients leave.

Ophthalmic Clinics

Ophthalmic clinics make good use of surgery techs that specialize in cataract surgery and eye plastics. Inventory in clinic such as this is impressive and must be watched carefully because minimal amounts of lenses, lacrimal stents, and other products are kept on the shelf. Keeping up with replacements of these items is often done by the surgical tech because a separate person for purchasing is not financially feasible.

Versatility

Surgical techs are versatile in that they know all spectrums of what it takes to make surgery go well. In the tight setting of a medical clinic setting, every employee is under the microscope. It is impossible to blame mistakes on a large team of people because medical clinics run a tight ship when it comes to paying salaries. In this manner, surgical techs can do as much as an RN, if trusted and supervised properly by the surgeon. Many surgeons prefer techs because they are trained in packaging and preparing to sterilize instruments. They are also trained to take vitals, prep the patient, help with positioning, and assist recovery room nurses.

Education

Many surgical techs have a degree, or even licensure with the state, as a surgical assistant. This allows more freedom in the job descriptions. Surgical techs may also specialize in orthopedics, cardiology, and ophthalmology.

Some surgical techs go back to nursing school and become excellent operating room nurses. This is advantageous because then they know both sides of the field.