We greatly appreciate and value all of our SpecialtyCare ATS employees. We’re highlighting Amanda Hill, Clinical Manager of our MidSouth-Arkansas MISS Team, whose work upholds our mission and vision. She discusses what led her to healthcare and what a typical day in her role looks like while sharing valuable advice and memorable moments from her career.
How long have you been involved with ATS and which team are you currently on?
I started with ATS in November 2021 and I am currently the ATS Clinical Manager at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.
What led you to become interested in ATS and can you describe the path you took?
I had previously worked as a MIS Clinical Manager at another hospital in Little Rock for 12 years. I was approached by my former Director of Operations about becoming the ATS Clinical Manager for a new ATS account starting at Baptist Health Medical Center. I was excited to work for SpecialtyCare again and to learn a new service that would further my career in surgery, so I accepted the position.
What was the transition like from MIS manager to ATS manager? How are the service lines different?
The transition was a bit challenging for me, but having worked in the surgical field previously was a big help. With ATS, you have a more direct impact on the patient than with MIS.
What are the benefits of a career in ATS?
The primary benefits for me are getting to work with many types of healthcare professionals each day and knowing we are helping hospitals by improving patient outcomes and OR efficiency.
What is a day in the life like for you at work?
We mainly do orthopedic, spine and vascular cases. Vascular cases can be more stressful due to higher blood loss. Orthopedic and spine cases are typically more relaxed. In any case, I start by checking in with the OR, get my machine ready, then obtain the necessary patient information from their chart. During the case, I communicate with anesthesia, as well as with the surgeon, to inform them of blood loss and how much blood I am able to give back to the patient.
What communication advice would you give when it comes to working successfully in a team dynamic?
Practice open and honest communication with your team. When team members can openly discuss issues, ask for help or clarity, and trust each other and their leaders, they will feel empowered in their roles and as members of the team.
What was a surprise to you about the career when you first started?
Probably the amount of contraindications there are that can affect the patient.
What has been a memorable moment or story you’d like to share from your career?
Switching from MIS to ATS was definitely challenging for me. I was doubting myself and what I was capable of during training. A fellow associate that was helping me during my Phase III training noticed my apprehension. He sat me down and we had a heart to heart talk about it. His words were direct, but constructive, and made me feel empowered. It was exactly what I needed to hear. It was a turning point for me during this journey, and I am grateful to him for his advice.
About SpecialtyCare
With over 1,800 clinicians supporting over 500,000 procedures annually, SpecialtyCare provides the highest quality people, services, and technology to the operating room. More than 1,200 hospitals trust SpecialtyCare to help them achieve exceptional care outcomes, regulatory compliance, and financial results. By maintaining the SpecialtyCare Operative Procedural Registry (SCOPE™), the largest procedural database of its kind, we identify standards, determine benchmarks, disseminate best practices, and foster innovations and efficiencies that improve patient outcomes. Accredited and certified by The Joint Commission, SpecialtyCare develops expertise beyond industry requirements. Customers trust our highly trained clinicians delivering excellence in perfusion, ECMO, intraoperative neuromonitoring, neurodiagnostic services, autotransfusion, sterile processing management, surgical assist, and minimally invasive surgical support, among others. Visit Specialtycareus.com.