Summer Sanford

Highly versatile clinical and surgical support professional with experience spanning direct patient care, surgical preparation and circulation, breast reconstruction coordination, and multi-provider surgery scheduling. Demonstrated ability to manage complex clinical workflows, support surgeons in clinic and OR environments, communicate effectively with patients, and coordinate all administrative and medical components of surgery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provided comprehensive clinical support including rooming patients, documenting in Nextech, obtaining vitals, managing medical documentation, and assisting physicians during exams, procedures, wound care, tissue expansions, and suture/drain removal.
• Coordinated breast reconstruction surgeries by scheduling cases with multiple surgical teams, arranging pre-op appointments, preparing reconstruction packets, submitting pre-certifications, ordering implants/expanders, and communicating procedure details to patients.
• Served as OR circulator, completing patient check-ins, obtaining consents, assisting CRNAs and surgical staff, performing surgical time-outs, documenting operative records, handling tissue processing/packaging, and supporting patient recovery and discharge.
• Managed clinic and OR supply levels, maintained sterile environments, handled instrument care, and prepared rooms for all types of appointments and procedures.
• Provided patient education via phone, email, and in-person communication, triaged concerns, and ensured all necessary labs, imaging, and medical clearances were completed before surgery.
• Collaborated with surgeons, nurses, schedulers, and external clinics to coordinate care, maintain accurate records, and streamline clinic and OR operations.

• Coordinated with surgeons to confirm procedure details and requirements.
• Scheduled surgeries for patients in a fast-paced plastic surgery practice.

Dedicated and highly adaptable clinical and surgical support professional with extensive experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery settings. Skilled in patient coordination, surgery scheduling, OR circulation, and providing hands-on clinical assistance during exams and procedures. Proven ability to manage complex workflow systems, communicate effectively with patients and providers, and support all stages of surgical care—from pre-op preparation to postoperative recovery. Strong multitasker with deep knowledge of breast reconstruction processes, clinical documentation, and OR operations.

Clinical Support & Patient Care

• Documented patient encounters in Nextech; managed patient communication via phone, email, and charting platforms.
• Roomed patients, prepared exam rooms, obtained vitals, and assisted physicians with exams, tissue expansions, wound care, and procedures.
• Removed sutures, JP/Blake drains, and prepared local anesthetics and medications.
• Coordinated imaging and lab orders including labs, EKGs, mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs.
• Managed medical documents, consents, pre-op packets, and incoming faxes; ensured accurate charting and scanning.
• Restocked clinical/OR rooms and maintained instrument solutions.

Surgery Scheduling & Coordination

• Scheduled breast reconstruction surgeries with multiple surgical teams, managed block time, and coordinated with external offices.
• Communicated surgery details to patients including prep instructions, arrival times, and procedure expectations.
• Ordered implants, expanders, FlexHD, Galaflex, and other surgical materials.
• Initiated and completed insurance pre-certifications; handled scheduling referrals and redirected patients to other facilities when needed.

OR Circulation & Surgical Assistance

• Checked in surgical patients, obtained consents and photos, performed pregnancy tests, and provided updates to caregivers.
• Assisted CRNAs with IVs and airway management; placed Foley catheters, SCDs, Bair Huggers, and other perioperative equipment.
• Conducted surgical time-outs, documented operative records, and managed operative checklists.
• Processed, photographed, weighed, packaged, and coordinated pickup of tissue samples for ZenBio/Insoma/REX.
• Restocked supplies, cleaned and turned over OR rooms, handled laundry, instrument rinsing, and room preparation.
• Supported postoperative care including recovery assistance, dressing patients, and discharging.
• Communicated surgery reminders and next-day confirmations to patients.

• Run provider schedules; room patients and manage patient flow for high-volume clinic.
• Administer vaccines; perform TB tests, ear lavages, point-of-care tests (UA, strep, flu, RSV, microalbumin).
• Collect specimens; take vital signs; assist with minor procedures; obtain consents.
• Chart in ECW; restock rooms; ensure OSHA, infection control, and safety readiness.

• Prepare ORs, instruments, and sterile fields; provide intra‑operative assistance across GYN/OB cases.
• First/second assist on C‑sections; support vaginal deliveries; set up/assist in D&C and other GYN procedures.
• Handle specimens; counts; positioning; sterile processing support; equipment setup; supply management.
• Monitored sterile field practices to ensure patient safety during procedures.
• Operated surgical equipment, including electrosurgical units and suction devices.
• Collaborated with nurses to maintain efficient workflow in the operating room.
• Maintained accurate records of instruments used during surgical procedures.
• Educated new staff on proper sterilization techniques and equipment handling.
• Responded promptly to the needs of surgeons and medical staff during operations.
• Ensured compliance with hospital protocols for infection control and safety standards.

• Room patients; perform timeouts, vitals, vaccines (Tdap, Rhogam, Influenza, HPV); obtain consents.
• Assist with GYN procedures (MyoSure, LEEP, NovaSure, D&C, hysteroscopy, IUD insertion/removal).
• Chart in Athena; label/track specimens; sterilize instruments; support ultrasound setups.

• Prepare OR and patients; maintain sterile fields; instrument passing; complete surgical counts.
• Assist primary/secondary in C‑sections, emergency C‑sections, tubal ligations, salpingectomies, D&Cs.
• Use Epic for charting; perform vitals for adults/newborns; foley/IV insertion & removal; perinatal care.

• Administer medications (incl. insulin/narcotics) and document on paper MAR; wound/ADL support.
• Administered medications to residents according to prescribed schedules.
• Monitored residents for side effects and medication interactions.
• Documented medication administration and resident observations accurately.
• Communicated effectively with residents and families regarding medication needs.
• Ensured compliance with state regulations regarding medication management practices.
• Monitored patient vital signs such as temperature, pulse rate and blood pressure.
• Maintained accurate medication records for each patient.
• Ensured that all controlled substances are appropriately secured at all times according to state regulations.