Surgical Technology, Associate in Applied Science (ORT)

Effective: Fall 2016

The goal of this Surgical Technology program is to prepare students with the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to gain employment as entry-level surgical technologists and become contributing members of the health care team to function under the supervision of professional registered nurses or licensed physicians. This will be accomplished by

1. preparing competent graduates in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning domains and
2. meeting or exceeding the criteria set forth in the current Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP) Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Surgical Technology.

The program includes courses in general and technical education. Selected clinical experiences are provided in local hospitals under the supervision of a member of the surgical technology clinical faculty.

An associate in applied science degree will  be awarded upon successful completion of the required program with a “C” or better in all surgical technology courses.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

All Surgical Technology applicants are required to submit a “Criminal History Record Information Report,” Federal Criminal History Report (FBI) and a Child Abuse Clearance form.An applicant with any history of conviction of a misdemeanor or felony crime or pending charges [any criminal misdemeanor or felony charges as yet unresolved by the courts] cannot be placed in the position of working in a health career environment and may not petition for acceptance to the Surgical Technology Program.

Students who are not free of convictions of a prohibitive offense prior to petitioning may not be able to complete their studies because clinical experiences needed for course/program success may be prohibited. If a student cannot complete their clinical studies, they will not be accepted into the Surgical Technology Program.

This program prepares graduates for beginning level positions in the operating room, central processing department, dialysis unit, ambulatory surgery center, endoscopy or interventional procedure unit. In addition to normal tuition and fees, the surgical technology student is required to purchase regulation shoes.

Students who fail or withdraw from a surgical technology course and want to repeat that course must:

• Have a GPA of 2.5.
• Petition for readmission through the Surgical Technology department, not the College Admissions office. Students may repeat the surgical technology courses only once. Students may “wait out” of the program only a total of three years beginning with the last semester attended in surgical technology.

All Surgical Technology students who have a course with a clinical component will need to have on file the results of a complete physical examination including: laboratory tests, a complete blood count, serology,  a 10-panel drug screen and TB testing. A complete physical examination is required of all Surgical Technology students prior to starting the first surgical technology courses (AHS 100 and AHS 101). Additionally, students must have medical health insurance and be in compliance with recommendations for the Hepatitis B vaccine. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the clinical area. Full CPR certification is required for all students before entry into clinical courses. Students must submit a photocopy (both sides) of “Health Care Provider” or “Course for the Professional”, (which is renewable every two years) prior to the first day of class. Certification must be inclusive from September 1 through August 1 of each year.

Certain manual dexterity and sensory skills that enable the student to competently perform required technical skills are necessary for successful completion of the Surgical Technology program. Health problems that can interfere with the applicant’s ability to demonstrate achievement of program competencies are considered individually.

Students may be dismissed from the program for violation of patient safety and/or behavior inconsistent with professional standards pending the outcome of the appeal process.

NATIONAL CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION FOR SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS

Upon completion of all required course in the program and immediately following successful completion of AHS 200 and AHS 201, each student is required to sit, with their cohort for the National Certification Examination for Surgical Technologists offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology (NBSTSA) as a condition of program graduation without exception. Students are required to complete Certification Exam application and fee by mid-term of AHS 102 and AHS 103 to progress to AHS 200 and AHS 200.

To complete the Delaware County Community College Surgical Technology Program Surgical Technology students are required to complete 120 surgical cases. 30 cases are required to be in General Surgery. 90 procedures may be in various surgical specialties.

This program requires a special process for admission. Check with Admissions to submit additional materials and/or follow procedures for admission.