Operating Room Liaison - St. Luke's - Chesterfield, MO

Surgical Solutions is a leading provider of outsourced sterile processing services to hospitals and health systems across the country. Our CRCST-certified technicians and operations professionals are committed to delivering the highest standards of instrument management, patient safety, and operational excellence. We partner with our hospital clients to build high-performing SPD teams and processes that support surgical outcomes.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Operating Room Liaison (ORL) functions as the primary communication and coordination link between the Sterile Processing Department (SPD) and the Operating Room (OR). This role identifies opportunities for improvement in instrumentation and case cart delivery processes, leads efforts to enhance cross-departmental communication, and ensures the seamless flow of sterile instrumentation to support surgical case continuity, patient safety, and operational efficiency.

The OR Liaison reports to the SPD Manager and works closely with the Sterile Processing Instrument Coordinator and Operating Room service line leads.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Case Cart & Instrument Management

• Verify and inspect case carts prior to OR start times, ensuring first and second cases are complete and staged to designated operating rooms
• Identify missing instruments on case carts and take immediate action to pull, locate, or fulfill each need
• Pull add-on cases and complete case carts as the surgical schedule evolves throughout the day
• Pull case carts for the following day and maintain documentation of progress for the incoming team
• Deliver completed case carts to the OR in a timely manner per department protocol
• Identify and locate missing instrumentation for next-day case carts and work with the department supervisor to ensure instruments are sourced and available

Communication & Team Coordination

• Serve as the primary point of contact between OR and SPD personnel and physicians to identify and resolve issues
• Maintain ongoing, proactive communication with the OR team and SPD to support turnover needs and ensure continuity of case flow
• Attend daily departmental huddles and review the daily surgery schedule with OR/SPD leadership to determine instrument needs and communicate requirements to SPD
• Collaborate with service line leads, OR personnel, and the SPD Instrument Coordinator to ensure instrument tray needs and changes are addressed transparently and promptly
• Provide daily feedback to coordinators and SPD regarding operational issues and barriers
• Answer OR phone calls and provide troubleshooting assistance or tray delivery as needed
• Respond to all instrument-related calls and needs from the OR with a consistent sense of urgency, prioritizing patient care and surgical schedule integrity

Quality, Compliance & Auditing

• Complete regular room visits and audits to collect data on case delivery issues, tray quality, post-case return quality, and bioburden correctness
• Perform residue (resi) contamination testing on instrumentation per department protocol and accurately log all results in the designated log book
• Perform instrument audits to ensure instrument sets are delivered accurately and completely to the OR suite
• Assist in establishing inventory needs lists based on daily surgery schedules

Instrument Tracking & Documentation

• Maintain competency and proficiency with the instrument tracking system; ensure all movements and transactions are documented in real time
• Identify and notate all missing instruments from case carts
• Document all instrument issues, testing, and case cart activity accurately and in real time

Professional Standards & Expectations

• Uphold professional communication standards with all OR and SPD team members
• Support a culture of transparency, accountability, and patient-centered care
• Adapt to changing surgical schedules with flexibility and a solutions-oriented mindset
• Identify gaps in communication and processes between the OR and SPD and escalate appropriately

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong knowledge of surgical instrumentation and tray composition
• Proficiency with instrument tracking and case cart management systems
• Effective verbal and written communication with OR and SPD teams
• Demonstrated sense of urgency and ability to prioritize in a fast-paced surgical environment
• Collaborative team approach with the ability to work independently when required
• Ability to perform residue (resi) contamination testing and maintain accurate records

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High School diploma or GED required
• Minimum two (2) years of experience in surgical instrument processing
• Current certification as a Sterile Processing Technician (CBSPD or CRCST) required
• Experience as a Surgical Technologist preferred
• Experience in case cart management preferred
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment (i.e., eye protection, gloves, shoe covers, surgical head covering, and gown) is required.
• Ability to maneuver heavy equipment; lift, carry, and balance items weighing up to 50 pounds individually or additional weight with assistance.