Standards of Practice

Standards of Practice Table of Contents (click here to download a pdf)
This lists all topics that will be published in the completed Standards of Practice. Some topics are linked for immediate download. Remaining topics will be published when approved by the AST Board of Directors.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction and Goal Statements
Foundational Principles
Role Definitions and Qualifications

Section I: AST and the Professions of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting

1. Educational Standards for the Surgical Technologist and Surgical Assistant
1. Brief Overview of the Education of the CST and CFA
2. CAAHEP Standards & Guidelines for Education in Surgical Technology
3. CAAHEP Standards & Guidelines for Education in Surgical Assisting
4. ACS Statement on Surgical Technology Training and Certification
5. American College of Surgeons: “Qualifications of the First Assistant in the Operating Room”
2. AST Recommended Clinical Ladder
3. Position Statements and Resolutions
1. Code of Ethics Position Statement
2. Position Statement on Surgical Technology Care of the Patient with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
3. Organ Donor Programs Resolution
4. Teamwork Position Statement
5. Position Statement on Surgical Technologist Preoperative Preparation for Surgical Procedures
6. Position Statement on Application of Aseptic Technique for All Patients
7. Position Statement on Proper Title of Surgical Technologists
8. Official Title Resolution
9. Certification Resolution
10. Role of the Scrub Person Resolution
11. Position Statement on First Assisting
12. Resolution for the Bachelor’s Degree as the Preferred Model for Entry-Level Surgical First Assistant Education
13. Accreditation Process Resolution
14. Position Statement on Unlicensed Assistive Personnel
15. Associate Degree Concept Resolution
16. Position Statement on Intraoperative Advancement of the Endoscope by the CST and Surgical Assistant
17. Position Statement on Witness of Informed Consent
18. Position Statement on Performing Venipuncture
    
19. Position Statement Performance of Wound Closure by the Surgical Assistant
20. Position Statement on CST Performing Dual Roles Intraoperatively
21. Position Statement on Skin Approximation of the Surgical Wound with Staples
    by the CST and CFA
22. Position Statement on Harvesting the Saphenous Vein by the Surgical Assistant
23. Posiion Statement on the Back Table and Mayo Stand Remaining Sterile Until
    Patient is Transported from Operating Room
24. Position Statement on Utilization of the CST for Performance of Caesarean
    Section and Tubal Ligation
25. Position Statement on Intraoperative Activation of Power Equipment and
    Electrosurgery by CST and CFA
    
4. HIPPA Summary
1. Fact Sheet published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2. AST’s Summary of HIPPA Regulations and Rules

Section II: Guidelines

1. Guideline for the Natural Rubber Latex Protein Allergic Patient in the Operating Room Environment
2. Guideline for Safe Medication Practices in the Perioperative Area
3. Guideline for Treatment of Anaphylactic Reaction in the Surgical Patient
4. Guideline of the Surgical Technologists Role During a Code Blue
5. Guideline for Massive Transfusion of the Surgical Patient
6. Guideline for Treatment of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
7. Guideline for Maintenance of Normothermia in the Perioperative Patient
8. Guideline for Malignant Hyperthermia in the Perioperative Environment
9. Guideline for Reuse of Single-Use Devices in Surgery
10. Guideline for the Implementation of the Neutral Zone in the Perioperative Environment
11. Guideline for Placement of the Suture Bag in the Sterile Field

Section III: Recommended Standards of Practice

1. Surgical Attire
1. Recommended Standards of Practice for the Laundering of Scrub Attire
2. Recommended Standards of Practice for Wearing of Jewelry
3. Recommended Standards of Practice for Use of Eye Protection During
   Invasive Surgical Procedures
   
4. Recommended Standards of Practice for Wearing the Lab Coat, Cover
   Gown, or Other Appropriate Cover Apparel
5. Recommended Standards of Practice for Hand Hygiene and Fingernails
6. Recommended Standards of Practice for Head Covers in the O.R.
7. Recommended Standards of Practice for Shoe Covers in the Perioperative Enviroment
2. Surgical Technologist Responsibilities
1. Recommended Standards of Practice for Counts
2. Recommended Standards of Practice for Correct-site Surgery
3. Recommended Standards of Practice for Sharps Safety and Use of the Neutral Zone
4. Recommended Standards of Practice for Patient Identification
5. Recommended Standards of Practice for Patient Transportation
6. Recommended Standards of Practice for Safe Use of Pneumatic Tourniquets
7.  Recommended Standards of Practice for Surgical Positioning
8. Recommended Standards of Practice for Laser Safety
9. Recommended Standards of Practice for Electrosurgery Unit (ESU)
10. Recommended Standards of Practice for Ionizing Radiation Exposure in the Perioperative Settingt
3. Sterilization and Disinfection
1. Recommended Standards of Practice for the Decontamination of Surgical Instruments
2. Recommended Standards of Practice for Packaging Material and Preparing Items
   for Sterilization
   
3. Recommended Standards of Practice for Sterilization of Reusable Items
4. Aseptic Technique
1. Recommended Standards of Practice for Sterile Items Dropped on Floor
2. Recommended Standards of Practice for Sterility of the Underside of the Mayo Stand
3. Recommended Standards of Practice for Bowel Technique
4. Recommended Standards of Practice for Urinary Catheterization
5. Recommended Standards of Practice for the Surgical Scrub
6. Recommended Standards of Practice for Gowning and Gloving
7. Recommended Standards of Practice for Creating the Sterile Field
8. Recommended Standards of Practice for Surgical Drapes
9. Recommended Standards of Practice for the Skin Prep of the Surgical Patient
10. Recommended Standards of Practice for Handling and Care of Specimens in the Operating Room
11. Recommended Standards of Practice for Breaking Down the Sterile Field
12. Recommended Standards of Practice for Monitoring Sterility

Section IV: Statements by the Council on Surgical and Perioperative Safety

1. Statement on Health Care Industry Representatives in the Operating Room
2. Statement on Blunt Suture Needles
3. Statement on the Prevention of Retained Foreign Bodies After Surgery

The Standards of Practice available on these pages represent only those Standards that have been approved by the AST Board of Directors. More will be published in the near future. It is envisioned that all AST members will receive a CD that stores all the Standards when the project is completed for 2008