Every experienced surgical technician should be aware of the three phases of patient and surgical are management. Mastering all three will ensure that they will be compensated with a high surgical tech salary and be eligible for promotions and pay increases. Without the knowledge of how to complete each sufficiently, an individual cannot expect to be successful in this position. The three phases are categorized into preoperative case management, intraoperative case management, and postoperative case management.
Preoperative case duties are numerous and typically are maintenance cases. A surgical technician will need to prepare and gather the necessary tools for an operation. Along with this, they will have to check the supplies and ensure that all the equipment is ready to be used and sterile before they enter the operating room.
In the intraoperative phase, each surgical techician is responsible for paying attention to the procedure and handing the surgeon the right tools accordingly. They must also handle any specimens, prepare the medication, and assist with dressings as well.
The postoperative management phase involves finishing up the procedure. This typically includes maintaining the sterile area until a patient is transported out, removing all of the used instruments, and cleaning each tool carefully for the next procedure. They will also prepare the room and the equipment for the next patient that is coming in.
It is important that each surgical tech understands that they are basically an assistant for the surgeon. They are present to help make the surgeon’s job easier and help the procedures run smoothly. In order for this to happen, the tech must be always on their toes and know what needs to be done next. Keeping everything sterile and ready are essential parts of the job, along with the qualities of being extremely detail oriented and able to concentrate fully throughout their entire work day.
