Perioperative Associate

**Kern Medical** has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

Career Opportunities within Kern Medical include many benefits such as:

- **New Hire Premium**: +6% of base rate of pay, matched up to 6% if contributed to Deferred Compensation Plan.
- **Shift Differential Pay**: varies per classification.
- **A Comprehensive Benefits Package**: includes Holidays, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.

**Position**: PeriOperative Associate

**Compensation**

The estimated pay for this position is _$19.9561 to $24.5435_. The rates shown include a 6% premium pay (base= $-$ plus 6%). This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses. In addition, this position may be eligible for participation and company contributions into the Kern County Employees’ Retirement Plan.

**Definition**:
***Under the direction of the Perioperative Leadership, and in cooperation of with other Perioperative Associates, is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the Perioperative Departments, patient and equipment transportation, and maintenance of assigned supply inventory.

**Distinguishing Characteristics**:
The Perioperative Associate (POA) performs tasks following established procedures under close supervision of the POA Lead and the POA Supervisor. This position is responsible for providing a full range of patient care and facility related support services.

The POA also assists and supports departmental supply ordering process, demonstrates ability to work independently with minimum supervision, maintains excellent time management skills, and assists in the efficient flow and safety of the Perioperative patient.

**Essential Functions**:

- Performs cleaning tasks in patient and non-patient care areas within the perioperative department.
- Removes, transports, and disposes of refuse and contaminated material according to perioperative and industry standards and State and Federal regulations.
- Prepares surgical suites to include the assembly, cleaning and disassembly of multiple surgical surfaces and equipment ensuring a clean surgical environment.
- Monitors, orders, stocks, and rotates general inventory in the perioperative department within the required timeframes.
- Safely transport patients within the hospital as directed; assists in the transfer of patients to and from wheel chairs and beds, along with positioning of patients under the direction of clinical staff.
- Distributes and collects patient trays.
- Assists in patient preparedness activities such as hair clipping and cast removal.
- Maintains effective working relationships with patients, physicians, vendors, the public and hospital staff.
- Transports and/or retrieves perioperative materials/items to and from various locations in the hospital.
- Completes required documentation within established timelines.
- Maintains real time communication within the unit leadership regarding status of availability and assigned work.
- Ensures radio transmitter is operational and utilized when on duty;
- Conducts a hand-off report to oncoming shift as indicated;
- Attends departmental/hospital in-service orientation, training and other staff meetings.

**Other Functions**:

- Identifies room and facility maintenance needs and reports to appropriate staff.
- Performs other job-related duties as required.

**Employment Standards**:
Six (6) months experience in an acute care facility in one or more of the following fields preferred:

- Housekeeping
- Food service
- Patient care services
- Transportation
- Laundry work
- Janitorial services
- Environmental services (EVS)
- Operating Room/Procedural Suite experience;
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions;
- Ability to use proper body mechanics when transporting patients to protect patient and self.
- Ability to utilize the assigned radio transmitter using appropriate telephone etiquette;
- Ability to handle information requests with courtesy, accuracy and respect for confidentiality;
- Ability to work toward a teamwork concept with all members of the Perioperative team, support department mottos of the PATIENT COMES FIRST, with an emphasis on safety, and interacts with and handles all patients, peers, other department personnel, volunteers and external service providers in a courteous and professional manner.

**Supplemental**: