Thursday, September 25, 2008

Nation recognizes surgical techs

Photo by Chuck Widener
Angie Garrido, a surgical technologist at DeWitt Army Community Hospital, prepares the operating room before a scheduled surgery. In addition to passing surgical instruments during surgeries, surgical techs are responsible for decontaminating and maintaining hundreds of surgical sets. They are also knowledgeable about sutures, drains and dressing materials. Medical institutions across the country are recognizing these team members during National Surgical Technologist Week, which runs through Saturday.

Surgical technologists hiding behind surgical masks across the country and at DeWitt Army Community Hospital receive praise as the nation celebrates National Surgical Technologist Week through Saturday.

Referred to by many surgeons as “vital” members of any surgical team, surgical technologists are responsible for knowing each instrument and anticipating the technical needs of many surgeons.

Known throughout the medical community as highly skilled and quick thinkers, surgical technologists are also knowledgeable about human anatomy and various sutures, drains and dressing materials. They help nurses track blood loss and perform sponge and needle counts throughout surgeries to ensure patient safety.

“Some surgeries can require a hundred individual surgical instruments, and it is the surgical tech’s responsibility to know each one of them,” said Capt. Charlene Wilson, operating room floor coordinator at DeWitt. “Surgical techs ensure surgeons have the correct
instruments, positioning, draping and skin preparation of patients. When this is done correctly, surgeries go smoother and faster, while
ensuring patient safety.”

In addition to passing surgical instruments during surgery, surgical techs are responsible for decontaminating and maintaining hundreds of surgical sets. Considered as experts in aseptic technique, infection prevention and environmental disinfection, techs can operate various
sterilizers, or autoclaves, according to particular manufacturer’s requirements.

“Simply put, surgeons would have a much larger workload and difficult time performing surgeries if the surgical techs didn’t exist,” Wilson said.

According to Barbara Felton, a surgical tech at DeWitt, there is no typical day in the OR. She comes in every day and prepares for any scheduled surgeries, but never knows what to expect.

“In the back of your mind, you always know you are here to try and save a life,” Felton said. “Even the smallest case can go wrong, but you have to be prepared.”

Perhaps the most hectic part of the job is when trauma patients arrive, Felton explained.  It’s often a frantic and hectic time, but it is why she has been a surgical tech for 17 years.

“It’s an amazing time when a patient arrives and they need your help right away,” she said.  “The doctor and the patient need your help, so you just go for it.”