Michigan Legislative Updates

04/15/2005

Surgical Technologist and First Assistant Bill Is Passed Out of the Health Policy Committee!!

By Earl Jerzyk, CST
Photos by Brenda Chilcote, CST

March 15, 2005

Today at the capital in Lansing, the Michigan State Assembly of AST took another step closer in protecting surgical patients in the state. House bill 4403 which was first introduced back on Feb. 24th in the House of Representatives by Representative Howard Walker 104th district and co-sponsored by fellow state Representatives Gary Newell 87th district, John Stahl 82nd District, Barb Vander Veen 89th district and Goeff Hansen 100th district and which was then sent to the house health policy committee was voted in favor of by a unanimous 16 – 0 vote and passed out of the committee.

Representing MSA-AST at the hearing was MSA –AST President Rebecca Pieknik, CST,BHS;  Secretary Laurie Johnson, CST and Board of Directors Joe Long, CST,MPA,Ed.D, and Brenda Mae Chilcote, CST, Julia Jackson, CST BAH of the Government and Public Affairs committee and Lynda Custer, CST, BS and Elieen Kortes, CST of the Education committee and Christopher DuBay, CST government and public affairs committee.  Also present were surgical technologist students from Oakland Community College, Baker College Flint and Baker College-Clinton Township brought by Program directors, Rebecca Pieknik, Julia Jackson and Lynda Custer respectively.

Julia Jackson worked over the weekend preparing our legislative team for testimony.  Joe Long of Lansing Community College and Rebecca Pieknik also worked on preparing to speak directly at the hearings on behalf of surgical technologist and first assistants for this bill.

Brenda Mae Chilcote a surgical technologist on staff at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon and MSA-AST board and government and public affairs committee member was able to capture this exciting moment with pictures for us.

The bill now goes back to the House of Representatives for their vote and if passed it will be then sent over to the Michigan Senate for their approval.  See Archive for past related article.