Makell Taylor

• A surgical technologist, also known as a scrub tech, plays a vital role as a surgical team member, working closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and circulating nurses to ensure surgical procedures are carried out safely and efficiently. The surgical tech is responsible for various duties before, during, and after surgical procedures. Before surgery, the surgical tech prepares the operating room, ensuring it is sterile, well-equipped, and ready for the procedure. This involves selecting and arranging the necessary surgical instruments, equipment, and supplies according to the surgeon's preferences and the specific requirements of the operation. During the procedure itself, the surgical tech assists the surgeon by passing instruments, sponges, and other items, anticipating the surgeon's needs to maintain a smooth workflow. The tech also helps position the patient on the operating table, prepares the incision site by cleansing and disinfecting the area, and drapes the patient to establish a sterile field. Throughout the operation, the surgical tech monitors the sterile field, making sure it remains free of contamination. After the procedure concludes, the tech assists with applying dressings, transporting the patient to the recovery area, and cleaning and sterilizing the operating room in preparation for the next surgery. Surgical technologists must be detail-oriented, able to work well under pressure, and possess excellent communication and teamwork skills to effectively carry out their critical responsibilities within the operating room team.

• A Pharmacy Technician is an essential healthcare professional who collaborates with pharmacists to dispense prescription medications to customers or health practitioners. We locate, dispense, pack, and label a prescribed medication for a patient, which is then reviewed for accuracy by a pharmacist before being dispensed to the patient. We also help pharmacists with administrative tasks such as processing insurance claims, tracking inventory, and filing paperwork.

As a patient care liaison, my duties are to do most of the computer work (transfer patients, print labels, print wristbands, order anything that is needed, and scan their papers), communicate with the patients and their family members, make sure the floor is clean/organized, help the nurses by giving them or ordering anything that Is needed for them to help the patient. While doing those things, I ensure and offer as much help as needed. While working at OSF hospital, I was taught how to properly take care of the patients, be patient with them, pay attention to detail, and make sure the patient knows you care about them, have empathy for them, and are working/won't stop working until they are better and in a healthy state.