Surgical Technology is an Allied Health discipline in which the practitioner is a specifically educated, highly skilled, cost-effective member of the surgical team. The surgical technologist works with the surgeon, anesthesiologist, registered nurse, and other operating room personnel to ensure that the patient is ready for surgery, the operating room environment is safe, sterile technique is maintained, the equipment functions properly, and the actual procedure is conducted to maximize safety.

The surgical technologist most often is the scrub technologist, the sterile member of the surgical team. However, the technologist may also assist with circulation or non-scrubbed responsibilities within a specific operating room. In the scrub role, the primary responsibilities of the surgical technologist include: preparing the operating room with equipment, supplies, and instruments. preparing the patient by transporting to the operating room, positioning, prepping, and draping. maintaining the sterile field. anticipating the needs of the surgeon and passing the appropriate supplies, instruments, or equipment. cleaning and sterilizing equipment. The surgical technologist promotes physical and emotional safety for the surgical patient and team. He or she uses critical thinking skills, combining a knowledge of the human body, surgical procedures, and technical skills to make clinical decisions. The technologist utilizes effective communication skills with the patient and personnel, and demonstrates professionalism through caring and accountable/responsible behaviors.

Sinclair Community College offers a two-year associate degree program in Surgical Technology. This seven-quarter program includes a combination of general education, biological sciences, and technical courses encompassing both classroom and clinical learning. An on-campus laboratory allows the student to practice technical skills, principles of asepsis, instrumentation and mock surgeries. The students get real-world, hands-on experiences through directed practice clinical laboratories in area hospitals. Under faculty and preceptor supervision, the student actively participates in general surgery, surgical specialities, pre-operative and post-operative care, circulating and central processing. Is there a certifying examination and a professional organization? Upon completion of the Surgical Technology program, the graduate may take the National Certification Examination for Surgical Technologist administered by the Liaison Council on Certification. The Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) is the national professional organization.

Employment opportunities: according to the U.S. bureau of labor statistics, surgical technology is one of the ten fastest growing occupations. The surgical technologist may find employment in hospital operating rooms, delivery rooms, endoscopy units, emergency departments, renal dialysis units, outpatient surgery facilities, surgical clinics, cardiac catheterization laboratories, central processing departments, physician offices, and other settings where invasive therapeutic or diagnositc surgical procedures are performed. Hours are flexible, depending on the facility and the employer. The surgical technologist is usually paid on an hourly basis, with salary and benefits comparable to similar career opportunities in health care.