Duke University Hospital is consistently rated as one of the best in the United States and is known around the world for its outstanding care and groundbreaking research. Duke University Hospital has 1,048 licensed inpatient beds and offers comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center; a major surgery suite containing 65 operating rooms; an endo-surgery center; a separate hospital outpatient surgical department with nine operating rooms and an extensive diagnostic and interventional radiology area. For 2021-2022, U.S. News and World Report ranked Duke University Hospital nationally in 11 adult specialties: cancer, cardiology & heart surgery, diabetes & endocrinology, ear, nose & throat, gastroenterology & GI surgery, gynecology, neurology & neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pulmonology & lung surgery, and urology. Duke University Hospital is also ranked first in North Carolina and first in the Raleigh-Durham area.

In addition to its hospitals, Duke Health has an extensive, geographically dispersed network of outpatient facilities that include primary care offices, urgent care centers, multi-specialty clinics and outpatient surgery centers.

General Description of the Job Class

The Orthopaedic Technologist is a trained member of the orthopaedic team who works with all associated health care professionals in delivering patient care and assuming appropriate responsibilities concerning all orthopaedic procedures. Performs a variety of tasks including the fabrication and removal of casts and splints, application of orthopaedic devices, and removal of external orthopaedic hardware in a variety of settings (inpatient, outpatient, emergency department and operating room) Acts as a resource for staff to ensure safe cast/splint application and removal practices are used.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level

Assist physicians and nursing personnel with orthopaedic casting procedures to include the application and removal of a variety of casts splints and dressings.Under the direction of a physician, assists in the clinical care of patients, including:

Application and removal of mobilization and immobilization devices

Application and removal of braces, prosthetics, orthotics, and orthoses

Adjustment and repair of braces, prosthetics, orthotics, and orthoses

Fitting and adjustment of canes, crutches and walkers

Fabricating splints for various conditions

Wound care, removal of wound closure materials (staples, sutures, orthopaedic hardware), and the application and removal of sterile and non- sterile dressings

Removal or adjustment of external fixators, halos, and orthopaedic frames

Preparation and set up for specific types of traction, making adjustments as necessary

Accurately takes and documents necessary patient measurements (grip strength, leg length, extremity girth, blood pressure, pulse, height, weight etc.) and pertinent history from the patient

Assisting the physician in the reduction of fractures and dislocations

Assist with aspirations and injections

Explains use and care of immobilization devices to patient and family using age appropriate guidelines

Reviews instructions with patients on various subjects, including wound care and edema.

Assist with the development of appropriate educational materials, using evidence-based information.

Demonstrates ability to apply knowledge to different orthopaedic treatment situations of adult and pediatric patients in the inpatient setting, outpatient clinic, emergency department and operating room.

Serves as a resource of other staff on the appropriate positioning and technique for the application and removal of various immobilization and mobilization devices.

Facilitate clinic flow and assist physicians and nursing personnel with coordination of patient care.

Maintain work area in clean and orderly condition. Set up and prepare examination rooms. Set up instruments and equipment for specific procedures. Clean and sterilize a variety of medical supplies, and maintain appropriate inventory of orthopaedic supplies and equipment.

Places orders for xrays and durable medical equipment per physician protocol.

Performs and/or ensures needed maintenance is completed on equipment.

Perform other related duties as directed.

Duties for Orthopaedic Technologist assigned to Surgical Suites:

Under the guidance of a physician, the Certified Orthopaedic Technologist may do the following:

Position, prepare and drape patients by using accepted sterile practices and techniques

Serve as second assistant in the operating room by using accepted surgical practices and techniques

Assist during reductions by supplying and applying appropriate materials

Assist with set up and application of traction devices.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education

High school graduate or equivalent.

Graduate of an accredited Orthopaedic Technology program preferred.

Military corpsman with training in military orthopaedics preferred.

Experience

Two years full-time work experience in a hospital, clinic, office, or military setting, working directly in the treatment of orthopaedic patients.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

Current certification as Orthopaedic Technologist Certified by NBCOT required. Candidates who do not have certification will be required to obtain within 6 months of hire date. In order to be eligible to complete the certification, you must have a minimum of 24 months of full time orthopaedic technologist experience within the past 36 months OR have completed a qualified Orthopaedic Technologist (OT) training program within the past 12 months.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ability to articulate descriptions of orthopaedic conditions based upon a basic understanding of anatomical structures and their relationship with one another.

Understanding of theory and application of manual, skin and skeletal traction.

Understanding of the proper application of aseptic techniques in dressing change and in setting up for sterile clinical procedures.

Ability to articulate the role of an Orthopaedic Tech to the general public.

Demonstrated commitment to quality assurance and quality patient care.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

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About Duke University Health System

As a world-class academic and health care system, Duke Health strives to transform medicine and health locally and globally through innovative scientific research, rapid translation of breakthrough discoveries, educating future clinical and scientific leaders, advocating and practicing evidence-based medicine to improve community health, and leading efforts to eliminate health inequalities.

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