Florida Senate - 2012                              CS for SB 362
       
       
       
       By the Committee on Health Regulation; and Senators Lynn and
       Garcia
       
       
       
       588-03523-12                                           2012362c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to surgical technology; amending s.
    3         395.0191, F.S.; requiring licensed facilities to
    4         establish policies and procedures for the employment
    5         of surgical technologists; providing a definition;
    6         providing educational and credentialing requirements;
    7         providing exceptions; providing an effective date.
    8  
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (2) of
   12  section 395.0191, Florida Statutes, to read:
   13         395.0191 Staff membership and clinical privileges.—
   14         (2)
   15         (e) Each licensed facility shall establish policies and
   16  procedures for the employment of surgical technologists.
   17         1. For purposes of this paragraph, “surgical technologist”
   18  means a person who assists and practices under the supervision
   19  of a surgeon to ensure that the operating room environment is
   20  safe, that proper equipment is available, and that the operative
   21  procedure is conducted efficiently. Surgical technologist duties
   22  include, but are not limited to, maintaining sterility during a
   23  surgical procedure, handling and ensuring the availability of
   24  necessary equipment and supplies, and maintaining visibility of
   25  the operative site.
   26         2. The licensed facility may consider for such employment
   27  only a person who:
   28         a. Has successfully completed a surgical technologist
   29  training program accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health
   30  Education Schools or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied
   31  Health Education Programs; and
   32         b. Holds certification as a surgical technologist from an
   33  organization recognized by the National Commission for
   34  Certifying Agencies. Such certification must be maintained
   35  throughout employment at the facility;
   36  
   37  unless the licensed facility continuously employs a person who
   38  is working as a surgical technologist on October 1, 2012, or
   39  uses a licensed practitioner subject to chapter 456 or a student
   40  as a surgical technologist, and such practitioner or student is
   41  appropriately trained and only performs duties within his or her
   42  scope of practice.
   43         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2012.