With advanced technological development in medical science and an increase in public demand, modern surgical procedures are becoming more complex and expensive. Generally, in mid-size to largr hospitals, 50% of beds are allocated to the surgical department, surgical facilities can sometimes only be an option, and serve as a central life-saving activity. The operation or surgical procedure’s success and failures not only influence the hospital reputation but also impact its operations and sustainability. OT technician work in hospitals plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth operations and patient safety.
Operation Theatre Team
The operation theatre team is responsible for the well-being of the patient throughout the operation. The team members are:
- Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon
- Anaesthetist
- Operation Theatre Nurse
- Operation Theatre Technicians
- Patient Care Attendants
- Operation Theatre Technologist or Technician
The skills of OT technicians contribute significantly to this team’s efficiency and success.
Need for Skilled Operation Theatre Technicians or Technologists
The survey by the Health Ministry’s National Institute for Allied Health Science and the Public Health Foundation of India in December 2012 highlighted the shortage of skilled and qualified paramedic staff in India. It mentions India is short by 8.5 Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre Technicians.
The number of OT technicians required in the hospital depends on the number of operation theatres, functional hours, and the type of specialty. Generally, if one OT is functional for 24 hours, then the number of technicians required is 3 per OT table in the hospital. Most of the mid-size hospitals have 3 to 4 operation theatres.
Skilled OT technicians not only improve the turnaround time and utilization of the operation theatre but also bring efficiency to the surgical team. This impacts patient-service quality parameters and feedback. OT technician skills directly influence how efficiently surgical teams operate and how well procedures are executed.
What does an Operation Theatre Technician do?
Operation Theatre Technologist or Technician staff are not only aware of advanced equipment and instruments used in the operation theatre but are also aware of their optimal use on a surgical patient. They respond to a certain extent for a patient’s life and health in many ways. These technologists can also provide services in life-saving and critical places, if need may be.
The OT technician job description includes handling surgical equipment, assisting in critical patient care, and ensuring the operation theatre is always ready for emergencies.
Roles and Responsibilities of Operation Theatre Technicians:
The various roles and responsibilities of an Operation Theatre Technician are:
- Ensure working of OT equipment like anaesthesia machine, Heart-lung machine, and ventilator equipment
- Maintenance of operation theatre records
- Conduct regular physical verification of all the OT equipment
- Ensure that a proper and regular supply of oxygen and suction is maintained all the time
- Responsible for fumigation of OT’s and their documentation
- Ensure working of centralized oxygen piping
- Maintenance of OT temperature and humidity as per the protocols
- Scavenging system for removal of anaesthetic gases
- To verify the functioning of the anaesthesia machine and breathing system
- Checking and confirming all instruments and medicines are in stock and loaded on the trolley for the surgery
- Assists in the patient transfer or shifting from a stretcher to the table and also sometimes to and fro from OT to the hospital room
- Handling the C-ARM Machines during the surgery
- Assisting the surgeon during the surgical procedure
- Patient monitoring during pre-operative and post-operative phase
- Assisting the anaesthesiologist in providing drugs, IV fluids, blood transfusion, and preparing drugs
The skills of OT technicians are essential in ensuring all these tasks are performed efficiently, contributing to seamless surgical procedures and patient care.
Importance of Operation Theatre Technicians in Healthcare
Operating theater technicians are an important part of the current healthcare systems as they are responsible for the proper functioning of operations. Taking into account the advancement of the sphere of healthcare and the appearance of new technologies in the sphere of medicine, the use of OTTs is not only in helping surgeons. The OT technician skills they have in handling delicate medical equipment, aseptic measures, and assisting the surgical team is beneficial to the patient and the surgery.
Contribution to Patient Safety and Infection Control
This OT technician job description expects him or her to be charged with the responsibility of cleaning the operation theatre at any given time. This will involve cleaning surgical instruments, equipment used in surgeries and ensure that all measures put in place to prevent any spread of diseases are observed. Any digression from these procedures will lead to post-operative infections, which are fatal to the patients. To avoid such risks, there are some measures that need to be observed when it comes to the work of OT technicians in hospitals, for instance, proper and regular washing and disinfecting.
They also help in placing the patients on the operating table so as to avoid development of pressure ulcers and nerve injury, particularly if the operation is lengthy. This way the patient is well monitored to make sure that he or she is comfortable during the whole process.
Handling Advanced Medical Equipment
Some of the medical equipment that is used in surgeries includes ventilators, C-ARM machines, anesthesia workstations, and surgical robots. The skills of an OT technician also involve installing and aligning these machines so that they can be used efficiently. This relieves the pressure of equipment failure from the surgeons and puts it where it belongs, on the equipment. They also help in cases of emergencies like a breakdown of equipment or any other issues that may arise with the patients.
Enhancing Surgical Team Efficiency
An operation theatre is a sensitive section, and OTTs are very important in ensuring that all the processes are well-coordinated. The OT technician work in hospitals includes cleaning the operating theatre for surgery, ensuring that all forms of equipment and instruments that may be required during surgery are checked, and also assisting the surgeons and anesthetists during the surgery. This puts them in a position to be able to anticipate the needs of the surgical team and therefore minimize time wastage. A well-trained OTT also shortens the time taken to conduct the operation and, in the process, improves the health status of the patient as well as the hospital.
Career Growth and Opportunities
OTTs have many career opportunities because there is an increase in demand for healthcare professionals. Many start as OT assistants and progress to senior roles such as OT supervisors or technical officers. They can also continue to higher learning institutions and gain experience in some of the sub-specialties like neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, or organ transplant surgery. Some may also opt to teach in order to train the new OTTs or even engage in medical research.
The job of an Operation Theatre Technician is not just a job but a noble profession to serve society, save the patient’s life, and enhance the art of surgery.
How to become an Operation Theatre Technician?
To become an OTT, the candidate should have passed Class 12 (Science) with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from any recognized board or university and join Tech Mahindra SMART Academy for Healthcare. These are located in Delhi, Mohali, Mumbai and Pune and are fully equipped with all the modern amenities and have experienced faculty. There is also a placement team in every Academy to ensure that each student is placed after the completion of his or her course.
Apart from the above qualification, aspirants must also have the zeal to become a skilled Operation Theatre Technician, such as:
- Love challenging roles, due to uncertainty associated with surgical procedures
- Dynamic profession, since each case and patient is different
- Men of action/rather than words – “Talk with Hands”
- A team player
- Adaptability and flexibility to work long hours
- Compassion towards the patients
The OT technician skills required also include clinical and pharmacological knowledge, infection control practices, communication skills, behavioral skills, quick decision-making, courage, attention to detail, and compliance with OT protocols and regulations.
Operation Theatre Technician course at SMART Academies
SMART AcademiesThe curriculum of the Operation Theatre Technician course in Tech Mahindra SMART Academies for Healthcare is as follows: The course offers adequate knowledge about the usage of various diagnostic equipment like ventilators, monitors, defibrillators, and C-arm machines.
It also covers the orientation on how to arrange the operation theatre and the instrument trolleys, the position of the table and the various positions of the patient.
The OT technician work in hospitals involves maintaining strict infection control protocols, supporting surgeons, and handling critical medical equipment, which this course prepares students for.
What Does The Future Hold?
A career in operation theatre knowledge is always growing and continuously evolving to meet the demands of the patients, as well as the growing need for ethical healthcare.
The scope of the career is restricted to hospitals, but you can always grow into a bigger job role once you have enough experience in this field. The remuneration packages of these OTT professionals are based on one’s qualification, experience, knowledge, as well as the reputation of the hospital they are working in. Career starts with OT assistants and progresses to technicians, senior technicians, OT supervisors, and OT technical officers.
Besides managing the operation theatre and conducting tests, a wider prospect would be to get into organ transplant handling, special baby care unit handling, managing the cancer units, and so on. They can also be made to research and mentor the new staff. The doctors, surgeons, and other physicians may also privately hire some of the operation theatre technicians in their clinics.
The OT technician job description offers opportunities for career growth, professional fulfillment, and making a difference in people’s lives.
As a healthcare hero, you will serve the greater good and work closely with rapidly advancing medical technology. The landscape of healthcare is changing, and you can be a part of it. The future is now!
