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HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION

Miami Dade College-Medical Campus:

Developing New Surgical Technology Program to Meet Workforce Needs

According to the Bureau of technologists are an surgical instruments and supplies that award a minimum of an Associate Degree
Labor Statistics, surgical tech- integral part of the team are necessary to perform the specific sur- at the completion of the Surgical
nologists are projected to of medical practitioners gical procedure. Therefore, the CST must Technology program.”
increase by 12% from 2016 to providing surgical care have detailed knowledge of the surgical Students in this program at Miami
2026, faster than the average to patients in a variety procedure in order to meet the needs of Dade College will also acquire extensive
for all occupations. Advances of settings. the surgeon. Students completing this knowledge of legal and ethical responsi-
in medical technology have Surgical technologists program will be eligible to sit for the bilities, anatomy, physiology, pathophys-
made surgery safer, and more prepare operating Certified Surgical Technologist Exam iology, microbiology, aseptic techniques,
operations are being per- rooms, arrange equip- through the National Board of Surgical patient care procedures, surgical technol-
formed to treat a variety of ill- ment, and help surgeons Technology and Surgical Assisting ogy procedures, patient safety, and use
nesses and injuries. The need during surgeries. (NBSTSA). Obtaining this associate and care of equipment and supplies, pre-
for health services profession- Surgical technologists degree and passing the certification exam operatively, intraoperatively, and postop-
als like surgical technologists BY DR. ALWYN LEIBA are responsible for demonstrates that the student is compe- eratively.
is growing in tandem with the preparing the sterile tent to perform entry-level job duties of a In developing a Surgical Technology
aging population of the baby-boom gen- field using sterile techniques; assem- Surgical Technologist. Program to address the workforce needs
eration. Workforce Development Area bling, counting, and passing surgical Miami Dade College, School of Health in Miami Dade County, Miami Dade
23, which includes Miami-Dade and instruments; and making sure there are Sciences developed a 64 credit hour College, School of Health Sciences is
Monroe Counties, will need approxi- no breaks in sterile techniques to prevent Florida Department of Education preparing students to become highly
mately 682 employees in the Surgical patients from getting an infection in the (FLDOE) approved Associate in Science skilled healthcare professionals while
Technology field per year between 2018 surgical site. (AS) degree in Surgical Technology. The improving their quality of life and allow-
and 2026, according to the Florida Surgical technologists are vital mem- degree in Surgical Technology is ing them to become an integral part of
Department of Economic Opportunities. bers of the surgical team during surgery, designed to educate and prepare gradu- healthcare teams. By training the next
To meet this demand, Miami Dade as they assist in the operating room ates with the skills required for entry- generation of healthcare providers, the
College, a leader in addressing the work- under the direct supervision of surgeons. level employment as a member of the School of Health Sciences turns career
force needs of the community, is dedicat- According to the Association of Surgical surgical healthcare team. The dreams into reality for thousands of stu-
ed to preparing students for the ever- Technologists (AST), the primary role of Commission on Accreditation of Allied dents every year.
changing field of health sciences. the surgical technologist is the first scrub Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Surgical technologists, also called role. In this role, the Certified Surgical Accreditation Standards for Surgical For more information, visit
“operating room technicians,” assist in Technologist (CST) has the knowledge Technology projects that by August 1, www.mdc.edu/health-sciences or call the
different surgical procedures. Surgical and technical skills needed to handle the 2021, “all sponsoring institutions should New Student Center at (305) 237-4141.

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