Carilion Proud: Get to Know Avis Reynolds

Meet Avis Reynolds, Surgical Technologist with the Cardiovascular Institute Vascular OR

How long have you worked at Carilion? 54 years

How does your job contribute to patient care and/or Carilion’s mission?
Commitment to our patients. I am always on time, available, and willing to lend a helping hand. Every patient deserves to have a supportive staff there to assist them.

What is your favorite thing about working here?
I have several! My favorite things are providing the best possible care for our patients, assisting the surgeons with their procedures, and sharing knowledge with the new staff.

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day for me is to arrive early and prepare for the day’s surgery cases by ensuring I have the instrument trays needed and getting the rooms set up for first case starts. I also communicate with the charge nurse and other staff about their needs for their rooms during huddle. Depending on the schedule, I may be assigned in the room to assist the physician or to scrub the case, ensuring that the surgeon has all the instruments necessary for the procedure. I also play an intricate role in bridging the gap between the Sterile Processing Department and the OR by communicating, interacting with SP staff and OR charge throughout the day to ensure that all instruments are available for cases today, tomorrow, and emergencies that may arise tonight.

How are you involved in your community outside of work?
I have been an outstanding member of the surgery technologist association for over 30 years. I also spend time with my sister and my family. I am a loyal member of CHUMS social club.

What is one thing that would surprise people if they found out about you?
I am the longest Carilion employee still working!

Name someone at Carilion who has had an impact on your career or who has inspired you.
This is a very difficult thing to do because, over the years, I have been inspired by so many people who have worked with me.

How has Carilion changed over the years?
When I started working at this hospital, I was in the second OR built on the campus. We wore dresses, and we could not wear pants. We didn’t use anything disposable but reprocessed and sterilized everything—even lap sponges! We had portable x-ray machines, not c-arms, and it took so much longer to shoot a multiple view x-ray. We went from a hospital administrator to CEOs. There was a time when we were calling our patients clients, and then we went back to calling them patients. Truly, so much has changed!

Share a memory about Carilion that newer employees might not know about.
The surgical tech program started because there was a shortage of nurses. They started the Surgical Tech school in June of 1969, and I got into the second class that started in January 1970. I have been through multiple floods and natural disasters in this hospital, caring for patients throughout it all! Nothing has kept me away from our patients over the years. If I couldn’t get home, I would stay the night.

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