As Secretary of the Virginia Commonwealth Assembly of Surgical Technologists and as an individual who has practiced surgical technology for more than 23 years, I am writing to express my support for the Regulations Governing the Registration of Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists as set forth by the Board of Medicine, Department of Health Professions, 18 VAC 85-160-10.  These regulations implement Chapter 531 of the 2014 Acts of the Assembly, Virginia Code § 54.1-2956.12 and § 54.1-2956.13 and establish requirements for surgical technologist and surgical assistant registrants.

We believe registration of surgical technologists and surgical assistants is the first step in moving toward a health care system that requires minimum education and training requirements for every surgical technologist and every surgical assistant.  Skillful surgery technique by surgical technologists protects patients from life-threatening surgical site infections, malfunctioning equipment and unneeded delays during the procedure. The surgical technologist must be able to anticipate the needs of the surgeon because every moment a patient is in surgery the risks related to anesthesia and bleeding increase. The surgical technologist is trained to handle and minimize exposure to hazardous materials, communicable diseases and bloodborne pathogens. The integrity of the sterile field is the surgical technologist’s highest priority.  The surgical technologist is the primary professional in the O.R. responsible for preventing infections. The surgical technologist is the only staff member in the sterile field, near the patient, responsible for counting objects to prevent a foreign object from being retained after surgery.  The Virginia Commonwealth Assembly of Surgical Technologists believes that education and certification of surgical technologists protects patients.  We, as professional surgical technologists, are willing to pay the $75 registration fee because we believe this registration is important in forwarding patient safety in operating rooms throughout Virginia.  Please approve the regulations as written.

Tina Putman, CST, CRCST

Secretary, Virginia Commonwealth Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists

Director of Surgical Technology, Assistant Professor, LFCC