Let Your Representatives Know Your Health Care is Important:

On a regular basis, important health care legislation comes before your local, state or Federal Government. As an active participant in health care legislation activities, I will reserve this area for information and updates as new laws pass the desk of our representatives. Nothing is more important than letting your reps hear your voice!

http://dhp.virginia.gov/bhp

Click on the word "here" on the announcement.

There will be 101 page text from Virginia on "Surgical Technologists and Assistants."

PS: Look up CMS Reg 482.51 or under: 42 CFR 482.51 (a)(3)2

Weak verbiage.  PLEASE see my latest discussion, contained within my open letters to President Obama.

I am personally not against any "Surgical Technologist" or any "First Assistant" role in hospitals i.e. the operating rooms or other surgical clinics (like angio, cath labs, and etc.) or in "ambulatory surgical clinics." However, I am against the staff in hospitals and in ambulatory surgical clinics working as "Surgical Technologists" or "First Assistants," without the proper education and training, certification and/or license! For any state or for any hospital to just hire any "Tom, Dick, or Harry" to "fill these roles is a conduit to injury, pain, and even death for many patients." Cheap labor and uneducated labor in the end ARE NOT "cost avoidant or humane or moral or ethical!"

The STATES also have to mandate that all hospitals and ambulatory surgical clinics ONLY hire educated / trained and certified and/or licensed "Surgical Technologists or First Assistants." Training On The Job should not be allowed for any "Surgical Technologist or First Assistant Role / Job! The potential for patient harm in these roles is very high!

"AORN Position Statement on Orientation of the Surgical Technologist to the Perioperative Setting "(The Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses) PREAMBLE: "AORN recognizes that facilities come in every size and configuration, and one orientation program will not adequately address every need. There are certain basic components of orientation for the surgical technologist, however, that must be met consistently to ensure optimal patient outcomes."

"AORN defines a novice surgical technologist as an entry-level practitioner who has recently graduated from an accredited surgical technology program and who has been employed for one year or less. Experienced surgical technologists with previous OR experience who have been away from the OR for extended periods will be considered novices."

"AORN defines an experienced surgical technologist as a technologist with recent OR experience. This technologist should have at least two years of experience in a facility of similar size and patient acuity as the hiring facility. A skills assessment form should be completed to accurately assess competency levels in all specialties."

WANT TO SAVE A LIFE?!
DEMAND THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF ALL HOSPITALS AND AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS AND VAs. ASK WHO IS WORKING AS A "SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST" OR AS A "FIRST ASSISTANT." AND ASK WHAT IS THEIR:

• EDUCATION
• TRAINING (ON THE JOB DOES NOT COUNT!)
• CERTIFICATION (FROM AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL)
• LICENSE

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL

Department of Justice Main Switchboard 202.514.2000
Office of the Attorney General Public Comment Line - 202-353-1555
To call component officials, see the Directory of Department Officials
E-mails to the Department of Justice, including the Attorney General, may be sent to: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov

WANT TO SAVE A LIFE?!
DEMAND THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF ALL HOSPITALS AND AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS. ASK WHO IS WORKING AS A "SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST" OR AS
A "FIRST ASSISTANT." AND ASK WHAT IS THEIR:

• EDUCATION
• TRAINING (ON THE JOB DOES NOT COUNT!)
• CERTIFICATION (FROM AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL)
• LICENSE

THE UNITED STATES D.C. OPERATOR @ 202.224.3121 WILL PLACE YOU DIRECTLY TO "YOUR" CONGRESSMAN'S AND SENATOR'S OFFICE. EMAIL ADDRESSES ARE ON THE INTERNET UNDER US.GOV. LETTERS ARE BASICALLY USELESS TO SEND SINCE THEY TAKE TOO LONG TO GET THROUGH THE "SYSTEM!"

BELIEVE ME, THE REPORTS WILL BE VERY REVEALING! AND BELIEVE ME,YOU WILL SAVE A LIFE!

THANK YOU,
Helen French RN,BSN