PRINTER'S NO. 2453
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1805
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY WARD, RAPP, JAMES, ZIMMERMAN, DeLUCA, JOZWIAK,
WATSON, WHEELAND, MILNE, GILLEN AND SCHWEYER,
SEPTEMBER 21, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
SEPTEMBER 21, 2017
AN ACT
Regulating the practice of surgical technology and surgical
technologists.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Surgical
Technologist Regulation Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Health care facility." A hospital, ambulatory surgical
center or freestanding surgical outpatient facility.
"Surgical technologist." An individual who is employed or
contracted by a health care facility to perform surgical
technology tasks and functions.
"Surgical technology." Surgical patient care that includes,
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but is not limited to, the following tasks or functions:
(1) preparing the operating room and the sterile field
for surgical procedures by ensuring that surgical equipment
is functioning properly and safely and preparing sterile
supplies, instruments and equipment using sterile technique;
and
(2) as directed, performing tasks at the sterile field,
including:
(i) maintaining asepsis and correcting breaks in the
sterile field;
(ii) passing supplies, equipment or instruments
according to the needs of the surgical team;
(iii) sponging or suctioning an operative site;
(iv) preparing and cutting suture material;
(v) transferring and irrigating with fluids;
(vi) transferring but not administering drugs within
the sterile field;
(vii) handling specimens;
(viii) holding retractors and other instruments;
(ix) applying electrocautery to clamps on bleeders;
(x) connecting drains to suction apparatus;
(xi) applying dressings to closed wounds; and
(xii) performing sponge, needle, supply and
instrument counts with the registered nurse circulator.
Section 3. Requirements for health care facilities.
The following apply:
(1) A health care facility shall not employ or otherwise
contract for the services of a surgical technologist in a
health care facility unless the individual meets at least one
of the following:
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(i) has successfully completed a program accredited
by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs or other nationally accredited
educational program for surgical technologists and holds
and maintains the Certified Surgical Technologist
credential administered by the National Board of Surgical
Technology and Surgical Assisting or its successor;
(ii) has successfully completed an appropriate
training program for surgical technology in the United
States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard
or in the United States Public Health Service;
(iii) provides evidence that the individual was
employed to practice surgical technology in a health care
facility on the effective date of this act or was
employed to practice surgical technology during the two
years immediately preceding the effective date of this
act; or
(iv) is in the service of the Federal Government, to
the extent the individual is performing duties related to
that service.
(2) A health care facility may employ or contract an
individual to practice surgical technology during the 12-
month period immediately following successful completion of a
surgical technology program, but may not continue to be
employed or contracted with beyond that period without
documentation that the employee or contractor holds and
maintains the Certified Surgical Technologist credential
required under paragraph (1)(i).
Section 4. Continuing education.
(a) General rule.--An individual who qualifies to practice
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surgical technology in a health care facility under section 3(1)
(i) or (ii) must annually complete 15 hours of continuing
education to remain qualified to practice as a surgical
technologist.
(b) Verification.--A health care facility that employs or
contracts with an individual to practice surgical technology
shall verify that the individual meets the continuing education
requirements under subsection (a) or, if applicable, that the
individual holds and maintains the Certified Surgical
Technologist credential as required under section 3(1)(i).
Section 5. Exception.
A health care facility may employ or otherwise contract with
an individual who does not meet the requirements of section 2 to
practice surgical technology in a health care facility if:
(1) after a diligent and thorough effort has been made,
the health care facility is unable to employ or contract with
a sufficient number of qualified surgical technologists who
meet the requirements of section 3; and
(2) the health care facility makes a written record of
its efforts under paragraph (1) and retains the record at the
health care facility.
Section 6. Applicability.
Nothing in this act shall prohibit any licensed practitioner
from performing surgical technology tasks or functions if the
practitioner is acting within the scope of the practitioner's
license.
Section 7. Duties of Department of Health.
The Department of Health shall enforce the provisions of this
act.
Section 8. Effective date.
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This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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