Our legislative committee is working tirelessly to advocate mandatory education and standardization of OR skills through the requirement for certification to work as a member of our profession.
The Florida State Assembly, like many others, has chosen to adopt the AST model bill (download it here). If you need an exact copy of the bill, notify lmcnaron@gulfcoast.edu. Once we have the house bill and senate bill number, we will post it here.
Senator Evelyn Lynn from Daytona Beach lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov and House Representative Doc Renuart from Ponte Vedra Beach Phone: (904) 270-2550 have agreed to sponsor our bill again. Please thank them for their support.
We want support from the representatives of your hospital, the Florida Hospital Association, the Florida American Medical Association, and the Florida Nurses Association. We need letters from your hospital CEO's stating they support the legislation.
Please emphasize the protection of our veterans. This bill protects the military trained surgical technologist by allowing them to practice surgical technology in Florida without going back to school.
If you are interested in working with the Legislative Committee, Contact Libby McNaron at lmcnaron@gulfcoast.edu or phone 850-814-6675. We will be working with Catherine Sparkman, AST Director of Government and Public Affairs.
The legislation states that a person may not practice surgical technology in a health care facility unless the person meets one of the following:
(a) has successfully completed a nationally accredited educational program for surgical technologists and holds and maintains the Certified Surgical Technologist credential administered by a nationally accredited credentialing body; or
(b) has completed an appropriate training program for surgical technology in the U.S. Armed Forces or Public health Service Commissioned Corps; or
(c) provides evidence that the person was employed to practice surgical technology in a health care facility within two years preceding the effective date of this act; or
(d) is in the service of the federal government, to the extent the person is performing duties related to that service.
It also says a person may be employed to practice surgical technology during the twelve month period immediately following successful completion of a surgical technology program, even if they have not obtained the CST yet.
The legislation requires that that anyone who qualifies to practice surgical technology must obtain 15 hours of continuing education each year. (Note: this includes U.S. Armed Forces graduates of surgical technology programs and people who are “grandfathered” in, that do not have the CST.)
The model bill also defines a surgical technologist and lists the roles of a surgical technologist.
If you are interested in being a member of the legislative committee or have comments or suggestions, send an email to: lmcnaron@gulfcoast.eduIf you are interested in being a member of the legislative committee or have comments or suggestions, send an email to:
lmcnaron@gulfcoast.edu
If you are interested in more information regarding involvement, method of address, sample letters or information, please visit: http://www.ast.org.
Please download our Hospital and Ambulatory Survey to help us with Statistical Analysis and return it asap to Libby McNaron (lmcnaron@gulfcoast.edu or fax to attention Libby McNaron 850-767-3246). We need to know what hospitals require certification. We are trying to create a list of all hospitals that already support certification requirements.
Contact List for those who will send an email in support of the legislation:
Ahern Larry Rep larry.ahern@myfloridahouse.gov
Boyd Jim Rep jim.boyd@myfloridahouse.gov
Ford Clay Rep clay.ford@myfloridahouse.gov
Gonzalez Eddy Rep eddy.gonzalez@myfloridahouse.gov
Hudson Matt Rep matt.hudson@myfloridahouse.gov
Jones (M) Mia Dem mia.jones@myfloridahouse.gov
Nunez Jeanette M. Rep jeanette.nunez@myfloridahouse.gov
Oliva Jose Rep jose.oliva@myfloridahouse.gov
Porth Ari Dem ari.porth@myfloridahouse.gov
Randolph Scott Dem scott.randolph@myfloridahouse.gov
Reed Betty Dem betty.reed@myfloridahouse.gov
Renuart Ronald ''Doc'' Rep ronald.renuart@myfloridahouse.gov
Rooney, Jr. Patrick Rep pat.rooney@myfloridahouse.gov
Schwartz Elaine Dem elaine.schwartz@myfloridahouse.gov
Wood John Rep john.wood@myfloridahouse.gov
Instructions for Monday and Tuesday If you are going to Tallahassee:
What does the Surgical Technologist Advocate who is coming to Tallahassee do?
1. Monday 1/30/12 @ 10 AM Meet at Larry Gonzales Office in Tallahassee at 223 South Gadsden Street, 2nd Floor if you can to canvas the representatives.
2. Tuesday 1/31/12 meet at 10 AM at Larry Gonzales Office to Canvas Representatives and get your T-Shirt.
3. Tuesday meet at 12:00 AM in Room 102 of the House of Representatives Office Building. Meeting starts at 12:30 PM and may go as late as 3:30 PM. Attire: scrubs, T shirt and Lab Coat.
4. Tuesday meet at 4:00PM on the steps of the Old capital Building Facing the new Capital building for a group picture to go in the AST Magazine.