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Surgical Technology Information

According to the CAAHEP Standards, all Surgical Technology programs are required to meet the thresholds of 100% participation rate and 70% pass rate.

MTEC's Surgical Technology program has met those goals.

2018-2019  100% Participation and 88% pass rate

This 9-month (Aug – May) adult program prepares a beginning technologist in the skills which are necessary to assist medical and nursing personnel in operating rooms, surgery clinics and sterile processing facilities/areas. Upon completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for Surgical Technologists (CST) and the second certification (CRCST) for Certified Registered Central Service Technicians.

 

Surgical Technologists responsibilities include:

     Maintain confidentiality and ethics
     Provide intraoperative care to patients
     Assist the surgical team during surgery and to ensure patient safety
     Maintain a sterile field and utilize quality aseptic technique
     Perform sponge, instrument, and needle counts
     Gown and glove the surgical team
     Operate surgical equipment
     Assist in transporting and positioning of the patient
     Anticipate the needs of the surgeon
     Clean, restock, and set up the operating room

 

Central Supply Technologist responsibilities include:

     Clean and decontaminate patient supplies
     Prepare/sterilize surgical supplies
     Prepare instrument sets
     Inspect instruments/supplies
     Prepares surgical case carts

 

Major Units of Study:

     
Introduction to Surgical Technology
     Surgical Techniques
     Anatomy and Physiology
     Surgical Procedures
     Microbiology
     Pharmacology
     Surgical Sciences
     Central Supply Technology 

 

Admission Process Requirements

•The applicant must be 18 years of age or older.

•The applicant must submit an official high school transcript from the United States or a GED grading equivalent scored transcript.  If applicable, applicants must also submit college transcripts.

•TOEFL scores are required for international applicants.

Application Forms

 

Complete the application and mail to the Health Occupations office by May 1st.

 

Screening Test

 

Complete a TABE exam. Scores will be given weighted values.  Applicants will be selected for an interview based on the test scores.  TABE exams can be scheduled through the Adult Learning Center located at MTEC.  Call 304-291-9226 for scheduling.   

References

 

•Submit two letters of references from former or current employers or supervisors.  Relatives are not acceptable.  Forward the letters to the Health Occupations office.

•References’ telephone numbers and addresses are required.

 

Personal Interview

 

•Applicants who have met the above requirements will be scheduled for an interview with the Health Occupations Coordinator.

•Selections are based on the total score of the entire admission process.

•Applicants selected are subject to criminal background checks.

 

Health Requirements

 

•The selected applicants are required to pass a physical examination performed by a physician before classes begin, to include the required immunizations and vaccinations.

•Applicants understand and agree that he/she shall submit to random drug/alcohol screening as part of the admission criteria and as part of the entire school year policy.

•Applicants must obtain American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR/First Aid cards.

 

Tuition/General Information

 

•Tuition and fees for the 9-month Surgical Technology program are approximately $4,400.  Tuition and fees are subject to change.  Financial aid is available for those who qualify. For financial aid questions, please contact MTEC’s financial aid advisor at 304-291-9240 Ext. 223.

•Classes begin in August and are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 2:15 pm. Please note that clinical hours will vary from the above listed hours.

•Applications are accepted from October 1st through May 1st for the following year.

•All accepted applicants must adhere to the program’s attendance and grading policies.

 

Certifications

 

•Upon successful completion from our nationally accredited Surgical Technology program, the student will be eligible to take two certifying exams:

 

•National Certification Exam for Surgical Technologists and

•Central Service Materials Management Technology.

 

•These exams are written and administered by the:

 

•National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) and

•International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM)

 

 The Monongalia County Technology Education Center does not discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, race, color, religion or national origin, as required by the Title IX, Section 504 and Title IV.

 

 

 

PROGRAM ACCREDITATION

 

The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

 

HISTORY

 

The Surgical Technologist Program at MTEC began in 1991. One class has graduated every year since. The program is currently accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 25400 US Highway 19 North Suite 158, Clearwater, FL  33763     Phone: (727) 210-2350, Fax: 727-210-2354, e-mail: mail@caahep.org.

 

Graduates are employed by different hospitals, out-patient surgery centers, physician’s offices, as traveling techs, and as private scrubs for surgeons in the Morgantown and surrounding areas.

 

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION OF SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY

 

The program curriculum is a balance of theoretical and technical courses with supervised clinical rotations at affiliated agencies.  This combination provides the student an opportunity for educational development and skill competency during the nine-month program.  The curriculum follows the guidelines of the West Virginia Department of Education, Monongalia County Schools, and The Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology (6th Edition) published by the Association of Surgical Technologists, Inc. Upon completion of this program, the graduate will demonstrate competency and responsibility and be able to function as an entry level surgical technologist.

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

The student is responsible for understanding the policies and procedures of the Surgical Technology program.  If the student is unable to comply with the stated policies and procedures, it may be in the best interest of the student, the program, and the school for the student to seek another program in which to develop vocational skills.

 

Each student will be asked to sign a statement that they have reviewed, understood, and agree to comply with the policies and procedures of the Surgical Technology program

 

PHILOSOPHY OF THE SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY/CENTRAL SUPPLY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

 

The faculty of Monongalia County Technical Education Center believes that:

 

  • Health is a state of optimum well-being for man. It is relative and constantly changing.
  • Do to this changing state, the Surgical Technologists practices in a unique role of assisting with the care and treatment of surgical patients by aiding the perioperative team to perform surgical intervention.
  • The Surgical Technologist’s primary setting for practice is the Operating Room.  However, this practice has applications in other health care settings.  These areas include Labor and Delivery, Endoscopy, Central Sterile Processing, Ambulatory Surgery facilities, as well as Materials Management and Clinical Sales.
  • The educational environment of the Surgical Technology Program considers individual differences will affect learning ability, and provides motivation to continue to learn and adapt in the changing surgical environment.  The faculty believes an individual’s learning ability is based on past experiences and personal potential, which permits learning to occur at different rates and levels.  Learning talks place most readily when material is taught in a logical sequence and progresses from the simple to the complex.  Under the guidance of the faculty, the student should assume responsibility for their own learning.
  • Surgical Technology education consists of the student’s development of theoretical knowledge and skills essential for appropriate functioning in the perioperative setting.

 

 MISSION

 

The mission of this program is to provide didactic and clinical instruction that will enable individuals to perform as competent, entry-level Surgical Technologists ready to sit for certification; and to help satisfy the need for Surgical Technologists in local and regional communities

 

THE TERMINAL OBJECTIVE OF THE SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

 

  1. To prepare the students to function as a Surgical Technologist/Central Supply Technologist who provides and participates in the coordination of patient care as a member of the surgical team by demonstrating knowledge of aseptic technique, surgical procedures and instrumentation.
  2. To provide learning environments for a student which facilitates the development of knowledge, skills, and values needed for professional development.
  3. To prepare competent entry level surgical technologists/central supply technologists to the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.  This includes cognitive, psychomotor and behavior skills.
  4. To provide students with sufficient background to be able to assimilate the policies and procedures of any health care institution consistent with their scope of practice.
  5. To prepare students to communicate effectively via oral, written and electronic modes.
  6. To prepare students to pass the National Certification Examinations prepared by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) and International Association of Central Service Materials Management (IAHCSMM).
  7. To foster the concept of continuing education and lifelong learning.

 

Surgical Technologist/Materials Management Technician

This nine-month program prepares a beginning technologist in the skills which are necessary to assist medical and nursing personnel in the operating rooms during surgery and in sterile processing.

Upon completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for Surgical Technologists (CST) and the second certification (CRCST) for Certified Registered Central Service Technicians.

CLINICAL CASE REQUIREMENTS

The following (130) surgical cases are required to successfully complete the Surgical Technology Program.

           20 – Number in 1st Scrub Role in General Surgery

           10 – Number of 2nd Scrub Role in General Surgery

           60 – Number of 1st Scrub Role in 5 Surgical Specialties

           30 – Number of 2nd Scrub Role in 5 Surgical Specialties

           10 – Number in Diagnostic Endoscopy (S2)

           *5 – Vaginal deliveries may be applied toward the second scrub role.

* 15 is the maximum number of cases that can be counted in any one surgical specialty.

STUDENT CLINICAL EXPERIENCE RECORDS

Students are responsible for maintaining clinical experience records.  These records track the students’ case experiences in the clinical setting.  Copies of all experience records will be kept by the instructor and each student until graduation.  Completion of student clinical experience records is mandatory.  Copies of all clinical experience records will be maintained in the student’s master file.  The Program Director and/or clinical instructors will collect the experience records daily to verify clinical progress.  Any student found falsifying information on the clinical experience records will be terminated from the program. 

FIRST SCRUB ROLE

The student Surgical Technologist shall perform the following duties during any given surgical procedure with proficiency. The following list is provided to identify the items that must be completed in order to document a case in the first scrub role.  A student not meeting the five criteria below cannot count the case in the first scrub role and the case is documented in the second scrub role or observation role.

  • Verify supplies and equipment needed for the surgical procedure
  • Set up the sterile field with instruments, supplies, equipment, medication(s), and solutions needed for the procedure.
  • Perform counts with the circulator prior to the procedure and before the incision is closed.
  • Pass instruments and supplies to the sterile team members during the procedure.
  • Maintain sterile technique as measured by recognized breaks in sterile technique and demonstrate knowledge of how to correct with appropriate technique.

SECOND SCRUB ROLE

The second scrub role is defined as the student who is at the sterile field who has not met all criteria for the first scrub role, but actively participates in the surgical procedure in its entirety by completing any of the following:

  • Sponging
  • Suctioning
  • Cutting suture
  • Holding retractors
  • Manipulating endoscopic camera

OBSERVATION ROLE

The observation role is defined as the student who is in the operating room performing roles that do not meet the criteria for the first or second scrub role.  These observation cases are not to be included in the required case count, but documented by the program.