Michigan Legislative Updates
Use this link to follow the
activity of House Bill 4834
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2009-HB-4834
Were You There?
Have You Heard?
MSA-AST Rocked Lansing
(This letter has been copied
from our home page for archive purposes)
Every experience I have had and office that I
have held with MSA since its inception has moved
me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to
grow. I never dreamed I would be at the helm of
this grassroots’ effort. So many MSA members
have worked diligently to see legislation
passed. MSA’s had its first Health Policy
experience in 2005 with HB 4403. The Health
Policy Committee experience was exciting. The
bill was passed, but not with the original
verbiage. We learned! MSA continued to fight and
was back in Lansing in 2006 with HB 5544 that
was presented by Representative John Stakoe.
GAPA members met with members of the Health
Policy Committee and different interest groups.
This bill stayed in committee.
In 2007 MSA-AST hired the lobbyist firm
Kindsvatter and Associates. GAPA committee
members continued to work on legislation
verbiage with K&A and AST. K&A has been working
steadily on our behalf. In December, Brad
Comment, Lobbyist-Kindvatter and Associates,
Cathy Sparkman, AST Director of Government
Affairs, Rebecca Pieknik, Chair of Government
Affairs and Policy Committee and I had the honor
to meet with House Health Policy Committee,
MCORN, MSMS and MHA. These meetings allowed us
to discuss our roles as surgical technologists,
the importance of education and the basis for
mandatory certification. Although we were well
received and created a “buzz” around the
capitol, we still have opposition. But this
meeting set the stage for more to come.
MSA came back to Lansing in full force! Working
together, MSA-AST members from all over the
state Rocked Lansing with a Mock Total Knee
Surgical Procedure in the Capitol Rotunda on
April 29th! Over 45 CSTs and CST/CFAs worked in
collaboration with Michigan Perioperative
Nurses, Surgeons, Hospitals, Surgery Centers,
and Vendors for a successful surgery on April
29th. They participated in weekly conference
calls, donated their time, talents, supplies and
equipment! Who would have thought that something
of this magnitude could be pulled off? The CST’s
from the state of Michigan did and did not
waiver!
This was a Historical Event in Michigan!
Grassroots efforts are never easy, but just like
in Surgery the Surgical Technologist’s SPIRIT of
Team Work brought about a successful surgery!
This was a TEAM EFFORT by a VITAL MEMBER of
Every SURGICAL TEAM. And like every TEAM EFFORT
we did not stand alone. We rose to the occasion
created by the Mock Surgery and pending
legislation!
Many thanks to all of the MSA members and
supporters who have made this happen! You shared
a vision to promote and empower all members of
the Surgical Team! You did not back down from
the challenge. You have provided a way for all
of us to move forward. What more can I say? You
have been empowered! The doors have been opened
for you to make a difference! Take the step into
the future!
Lynda Custer, CST, MA
CLICK HERE
TO SEE OUR PICTURES OF THIS EVENT
This was reported in
MIR's Newspaper:
(MIR's Newspaper granted to duplicate)
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Mock Knee Surgery
Makes Case For CSTs
When the sound of buzz saws and
battery-operated drills tore through the Capitol
rotunda this morning, you'd have thought
renovations were underway. But the assortment of
surgeons, certified surgical technologists,
registered nurses, anesthesiologists and even a
dutiful patient would have tipped you off that
something different was afoot.
That something was the first-ever "mock total
knee replacement" procedure performed in the rotunda. The first
floor was packed with a gallery of lawmakers, nurses, surgical
techs and the just plain curious. More peered over the second
and third floor railings to get a glimpse.
The operation was staged to demonstrate the
importance of the certified surgical technicians (CSTs) in the
operating room. According to Lynda CUSTER, of the Michigan State
Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists, Michigan
law mandates certain education, training and qualifications for
every team member in the operating room -- except CSTs.
"Let's stop training people on the job," she
implored to the crowd, rattling off a list of everything the CST
is responsible for: everything from making sure everything in
the OR is sterile to running a detailed checklist at the end of
each procedure to ensure patients don't wake up with a sponge
sewn into their abdomen.
Her organization is pushing for passage of HB
4834, which would set those qualifications, and supporting
another bill, HB 4615, which would require that a registered
nurse serve as the "circulating nurse" in all operating rooms,
whether in hospitals or free-standing surgery center.
Representatives from both the CST group and the nurses'
organization stressed that the issue is one of patient safety.
Indiana and Texas have CST credential laws on
the books. Bills are pending in nine other states.
Registered Nurse (RN) Claire EVERSON made the
trip from Arizona to witness the surgery and show support for
both pieces of legislation. She said that RNs and CSTs are
advocates for patients once the anesthesia kicks in, and
patients should be guaranteed they're getting fully qualified
representation.
After all, she said, your life is in their
hands.
"There is at least one 'Miracle on the Hudson'
in an OR every day -- and that's because of the CSTs and RNs,
and the work they do," she said.
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News Video courtesy of WILX Lansing
This video has now been
removed by the TV station. If you click
here we will try
to feed it from our site.
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