News

Baker College of Jackson, Port Huron, and Clinton Township surgical technologist students were present in force at the mock total knee surgical procedure held recently at the Michigan Capitol Building Rotunda. Although they did not participate in the “surgery,” the Baker students were there to support the Michigan State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists’ (MSA-AST) mission to educate the public about the importance of trained and educated personnel in the operating room.

“It’s often assumed that everyone present during a surgical procedure is educated and credentialed,” said Paula Hayes, Baker College of Jackson surgical technology department chair. “That is not necessarily the case and the mock surgical procedure was the launch of the campaign to pass the Michigan Surgical Technologist Credentialing Act, a bill that will ensure that surgical technologists practicing in Michigan hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers are appropriately educated and certified. This is an important patient safety issue.”

The legislation, bill number 4834, would require that new hires working in the “scrub position” successfully complete an accredited education program for surgical technologists and hold and maintain national certification. In addition, individuals employed by a hospital or surgical outpatient facility would be required to complete 15 hours of continuing education every year to remain qualified for and retain employment, contract or clinical privileges.

Baker College of Jackson and Clinton Township currently offers an accredited surgical technology associate degree program.

“Our surgical technology students are trained in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic techniques,” said Hayes. “We combine the knowledge of human anatomy, pathophysiology, surgical procedures and implementation tools to facilitate a physician’s performance of surgery. Employers who hire our surgical technology graduates know they are employing highly trained individuals from an accredited program.”

For more information about the surgical technology program Baker College of Jackson, call the admissions department at 517.788.7800. For the surgical technology program at Clinton Township, call the admissions department at 586.791.3000.