Medical Technical Officers (MTO's) specialising in Surgery are known as Operating Department Practitioners (ODP's) they are an important part of the operating department team working with surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre nurses to help ensure every operation is as safe and effective as possible.
ODP's provide high standards of patient care and skilled support alongside medical and nursing colleagues during peri-operative care. The ODP's role involves the application of theory to practice in a variety of clinical settings. The ODP therefore needs a broad knowledge and skill base including management and communication skills and will be involved with the assessment, delivery and evaluation of peri-operative care.
Peri-operative care can be divided into three interconnected phases -
Anaesthetic phase
Surgical phase
Recovery phase
The Anaesthetic Phase
During this phase, the ODP will;
assist the patient prior to surgery and provide individualised care.
need an ability to communicate and work effectively within a team.
undertake a role which will also involve many clinical skills such as the preparation of a wide range of specialist equipment and drugs. This includes anaesthetic machines, intravenous equipment and devices to safely secure the patient's airway during anaesthesia.
The surgical phase
ODP's will participate, as part of the operative team in a number of roles including the "scrubbed" role, application of aseptic technique, wound management and infection control.
During this phase, ODP's will:
prepare all the necessary instruments and equipment for the procedure. This may involve complex machinery including microscopes, lasers and endoscopes.
work alongside the surgeon, providing correct surgical instruments and materials in order to ensure safe and efficient completion of surgical procedures.
have a role in the promotion of health and safety and is therefore responsible for ensuring that surgical instruments, equipment and swabs are all accounted for throughout the surgical procedure.
undertake the circulating role, utilising communication and management skills, preparing the environment, equipment and acting as the link between the surgical team and other parts of the theatre and hospital.
be able to anticipate the requirements of the surgical team and to respond effectively.
The recovery phase
During this phase, ODP's:
receive, assess and deliver patient care on their arrival into the recovery unit.
monitor the patient's physiological parameters and support them, providing appropriate interventions and treatment until the patient has recovered from the effects of the anaesthesia and/or surgery and is stable.
assess the patient in order to ensure they can be discharged back to a surgical ward.
evaluate the care given during the peri-operative phases (anaesthetics, surgery, recovery).