LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Operating Room Nurse Legislation

MSA-AST lobbyists have been working on SB 605, sponsored by Senator Kahn, since the bill was introduced.  As introduced this bill attempts to require that an Operating Room Nurse must be present throughout the entirety of every surgery.   MSA-AST has no problem with the concept of the SB 605, however we have great concerns over the language in the bill that creates a hierarchy in a surgery.  Specifically, the language states that “a surgical technologist may perform scrub nurse duties under the supervision of the qualified registered nurse…” 

As soon as the bill was introduced MSA-AST lobbyists begun working on changing the bill and eliminating any sort of supervisory language in the legislation.  We are proud to say that after months of working on this legislation MSA-AST was successful in removing the supervisory language. 

MSA-AST would like to thank Lynda Custer, Rebecca Hall, Cathy Sparkman and Kindsvatter and Associates for their efforts on this legislation.  Our lobbyists will continue to monitor this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

Education Requirement Legislation

We are continuing our grassroots efforts on our legislation that creates a minimal standard for Surgical Technologists.  As stated in the previous update, MSA-AST has been working with Surgical Technologists from Kalamazoo to create a grassroots effort targeting Senator George, the Senate Health Policy Chair. In order for our legislation to succeed we need the Chair to support our initiative. If you are a Surgical Technologist and work with Dr. George, anesthesiologist, please notify Lynda Custer.

We are also working with the Michigan Chapter of the American College of Surgeons to gain their support. Although the National Chapter supports our legislation we need to get the Michigan Chapter’s support. We are fortunate to have Dr. Lena Napolitano, M.D., from the University of Michigan Hospital, support our initiative. As you may recall, Dr. Napolitano was a spokesperson at the AST National Conference.

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We need your help to get this done!

Please contact your legislator immediately and ask them to support HB 4834, sponsored by Representative Marie Donigan. You may follow this link for information on the legislation such as talking points, and a link will be provided that will give you a draft letter that can be sent from you to your Legislator.

Related Links to contact your Michigan Legislators regarding HB 4834 can be found at http://capwiz.com/ast/home/

Talking Points This is actually a link to download a compressed folder that contains two versions of the Talking Points letter, one in Word format and the other in plain text. You can edit either of these and print as required.

The Word version is recommended for printing and the plain text version is recommended for pasting into a web form.

Note: Other versions of these Talking Points, directed at other groups, may be posted here soon.

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The MSA-AST web team recommends that you write to your own local newspaper

Rebecca’s letter to Oakland Press.

Surgical technologists should be certified

The operating room can be a frightening experience for many people.

Any person faced with surgery faces many unknowns, but patients and their families count on one thing — all the members of the surgical team have the education, training and expertise to perform the surgical procedure safely and competently. They assume when they select their surgeon for their knowledge and skill, the team that works with him is just as knowledgeable in regards to their role assisting the surgeon. Patients in Michigan do not have this assurance. Who are behind those masks? Doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists and anesthetists all must have extensive education, and be licensed and even certified, to perform their roles in the operating room.

But one critical member of that surgical team has no such requirement — and could in fact be anybody — the surgical technologist.

The surgical technologist is the person who is responsible for preparing the operating room for the surgical procedure, assuring that all the equipment works properly, maintaining a sterile environment before and during surgery to prevent infections, and responding to and anticipating the needs of the surgeon throughout the surgery. Yet, Michigan has no regulation or requirement that the surgical technologist be educated, trained, certified or competent. 

A complete surgical team of certified or licensed professionals will help assure that a patient’s risk of suffering the consequences of errors is reduced.

Studies show that preventable surgical mistakes can be reduced over 30 percent where surgical technologists are required to be certified. Support certification of surgical technologists in Michigan, support HB 4834!

Rebecca Hall
Ortonville
Oakland Press – Voice of the people
Published: Sunday, August 01, 2010