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Promote the Profession
Click here for more information about surgical technologists.
Each year, National Surgical Technologist Week is an opportunity
to promote the profession and educate the community about the vital
role that surgical technologists play in the O.R.
Start planning now, because this year's celebration is almost here!
National Surgical Technologist Week
September 18-24, 2011
The annual National Surgical Technologist Week is always the third full week of Septmeber.
Click on the logo to see fun, new products you can use to promote surgical technology at your facility and in your community.
- Do all staff members at your facility know how important you are to surgeons - and, especially, to patients?
- Do they know how much education and training is required of surgical technologists?
- Do your neighbors actually understand what you do for a living?
- Does your community know who's behind those masks in the O.R.?
Now's your chance to show them!
- Hang up posters.
- Throw a party.
- Organize an educational open house.
- Ask your hospital newsletter staff to write an article about the surgical techs at your facility.
Each year, we hear about so many great ways that AST members are promoting this profession, including:
- Organizing blood drives
- Advertising in their local newspapers
- Sending event announcements to their local newspapers - some of the papers have even written in-depth articles about the profession!
The sky's the limit!
Remember to take lots of pictures, too, so we can publish them here!
Send them to us at: publications@ast.org
Events
Click here for more information about surgical technologists.
Who Is Behind The Mask?
Mock Surgeries To Be Demonstrated Throughout Virginia
Richmond, VA - September 18-24, thousands of surgical technologists around the country will be celebrating National Surgical Technologist Week. Surgeons and certified surgical technologists are putting on a mock surgeries throughout the State of Virginia to demonstrate the crucial roles of all surgical team members, particularly that of the surgical technologist. Surgical technologists are currently unregulated in Virginia, yet they are critical to a successful procedure.
The group is calling on lawmakers to establish educational and certification requirements for surgical technologists, a profession comprised of 1,700 individuals in Virginia. The profession of surgical technology is expected to grow 25% between now and 2018. Dr. Troy Glembot, MD, a Winchester surgeon states, “Every day in operating rooms throughout Virginia thousands of surgeries are being performed. Surgical procedures are complicated, and require extensive use of highly technical equipment. The proper education and training of all team members is vital to the successful outcome of all surgical patients. Surgical technologists are a critical part of this team to ensure the safe delivery of surgical care to our patients.”
Several states have passed legislation to require that surgical technologists graduate from an accredited surgical technology program and earn the Certified Surgical Technologist credential, yet Virginia does not require surgical technologists to have any education or certification.
Sandi Luthie, a local certified surgical technologist, states, “Patients assume everyone in the operating room is credentialed, yet surgical technologists remain the only member of the surgical team not required to meet any minimum standards. Requiring certification would decrease surgical site infections, enhance patient safety and ensure surgical team competency. We want the mock surgeries to show the public the importance of our role in the operating room and the importance of certification.”
Middletown Mock Surgery Information:
Tuesday, September 20, noon - Dr. Troy Glembot, Director of the Winchester Medical Center Bariatric Program, will lead a mock laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery (the weight loss surgery that reduces stomach size) at Lord Fairfax Community College, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA. The public is welcome to attend.
Richmond Mock Surgery Information:
Friday, September 23, 2011, 1:00 pm - Dr. David S. Geckle, MD will lead a mock lumbar laminectomy with fusion (surgery to help with spinal stenosis) at Fortis College, 2000 Westmoreland Street, Richmond. The public is welcome to attend.
Contact Information: Sandra Luthie, President, Virginia State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists
Click here for more information about surgical technologists.
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