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.