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Surgical Technology

Limited Entry, Associate of Applied Science Degree Program (2008-2009)*

*Information regarding the requirements for this Limited Entry program is available by accessing the Admission Requirements page.

MHCC Faculty Advisors:
Tracy Woodsworth: 503-491-7459 - Room AC 2764 Tracy.Woodsworth@mhcc.edu

The Surgical Technology program at Mt. Hood Community College is six quarters in length leading to an Associate of Applied Science degree. It is designed for selected men and women who wish to prepare for a paramedical career as members of a multi-disciplinary team caring for patients in the operating room and in the surgical practice setting. The program combines academic study with clinical practice in metropolitan hospitals. After completion of this program, the graduate is eligible to take the national certification examination. Successfully passing this exam is a requirement for employment in many hospitals.

The Surgical Technology Program at Mt. Hood Community College has been accredited by CAAHEP (formerly CAHEA), since 1978. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST), which sponsor the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology (ARC-ST), is the accrediting agency that acts on the accreditation recommendation formulated by the ARC-ST. The ARC-ST is located at 7108-C South Alton Way, Centennial, Colorado, 80112-2106. The ARC-ST’s phone number is 303-694-9262; their web site is www.arcst.org.

Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who are an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients in a variety of settings. The surgical technologist works under medical supervision to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures. This individual works under the supervision of a surgeon to ensure that the operating room or environment is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety. A surgical technologist possesses expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combines the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a physician’s performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.

Providing safe patient care is the primary focus of all the actions and responsibilities of the surgical technologist.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of this program, the student should be able to:

• demonstrate acceptable knowledge-based competencies in accord with national standards for surgical technology
• demonstrate technical (psychomotor) competency in the scrub role in accord with national standards for surgical technology
• demonstrate professional behaviors consistent with national standards and employer expectations
• demonstrate compassion for the patient and maintain his/her confidentiality
• demonstrate safe health care practices consistent with employer expectations
• exhibit a strong sense of ethical behavior and surgical conscience
• exhibit self-direction and responsibility for actions
• become employed in an entry-level Surgical Technology position.

Students will take the national certification exam for surgical technologists, provided by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), prior to graduation.

Applicants are admitted on a space-available basis after academic criteria have been met. Application packets are available on our web site at www.mhcc.edu/LRadmissions. In addition, information meetings are held regularly and are listed in the application packet. Once you have read the application materials and attended an information session, you can call 503-491-7256 if you have questions about the admission process.

Applicants to the Surgical Technology Program must be physically and mentally able to cope with the rigors of the curriculum and the demanding nature of the field of surgical technology. Established academic and clinical requirements essential to the program of instruction apply to all students and cannot be waived. Attempts will be made to accommodate and retain qualified applicants with disabilities unless results of evaluations indicate that given reasonable accommodation an individual will still not be able to perform the essential functions required by the program.

All students must pass a criminal background check and pass a drug test before entering the program. Applicants must provide documentation of all required immunizations as listed in the application packet.

The mathematics pre-program requirement, completion of MTH65, satisfies the mathematics requirement for the AAS. Students may not use demonstrated proficiency on the College Placement Test (CPT) to satisfy this requirement.

Note: A grade of “C” or better is required for all Surgical Technology courses and for BI121, BI122, BI234 and AH110.

1 Prerequisite: See course description in back of catalog.

‡ See pages 7-10 of the printed catalog.