Surgical Technology: Manchester Campus- Hartford Hospital, AS (SURG-AS-HH)

CT State Community College Catalog 2023-2024 New students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2023 will begin as students of Connecticut State Community College under this catalog.  Continuing students from one of the 12 community colleges will be transitioned into a CT State program in this catalog as of the start of the Fall 2023 term. The policies, courses and programs described are applicable as of the Fall 2023 term and may be updated as circumstances require.

The purpose of the Manchester campus- Hartford Hospital Surgical Technology program is to educate individuals in surgical technology.

The goal of this program is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to gain employment as entry-level surgical technologists and become contributing members of the health care team in accordance with the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) required minimum expectation statement for surgical technology programs “to prepare competent, entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.” This will be accomplished by preparing competent graduates through didactic coursework in the cognitive learning domain and through clinical scrub experience in the psychomotor and affective learning domains. The program goal meets or exceeds the criteria set forth in the current Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Surgical Technology.

The consortium agreement, between the CT State Community College Manchester Campus (MC) and Hartford Hospital, was developed in response to both a community and workforce need in Connecticut for surgical technologists. A consortium agreement is unique as it mandates the separation of curriculum with General Education Core course education and Core ST curriculum courses as required by ARC/STSA accreditation standards and guidelines. This consortium supports the Association of Surgical Technologist (AST) statements on the Associate Degree model for entry-level Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) with first year prerequisite courses taken prior to acceptance into the ST program. This includes the CT State Community College General Education component as well as science courses, including Anatomy and Physiology I and II, as baseline knowledge recommended by the AST Surgical Technology curriculum. AST’s statement… “Logically, this prerequisite year could be developed into a sequence of courses that provide foundational preparation for sophomore surgical technology courses and comprehensive coverage of each state’s general education requirements” …aligns with the MC Hartford Hospital ST Program curriculum sequencing. This consortium agreement denotes separate and shared responsibilities for both entities involved in the education of surgical technology students. General education core courses instruction is the sole responsibility of CT State Community College faculty and core ST curriculum course instruction is provided on the Hartford Hospital campus and is the sole responsibility of Hartford Hospital qualified Surgical Technology Instructors. CT State Community College provides academic support services i.e., admission, financial aid, transcript evaluation and grants the AS degree. Hartford Hospital provides and supports all surgical technology student lab spaces, lab materials and lab instruction with all ST instructors and the consortium director being Hartford Hospital employees as per the consortium agreement. ST students perform clinical rotations throughout the Hartford Healthcare System (HHC) in the state of Connecticut.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of all the MCC Hartford Hospital Surgical Technology program requirements, the graduate will be prepared to:

• Incorporate the theoretical knowledge of the basic sciences, medical terminology, pharmacology and pathophysiology into clinical practice as a qualified, entry level surgical technologist.
• Demonstrate proficient practice in aseptic technique, proper use and care of instrumentation, clinical judgments with anticipation of the surgeon and surgical case needs.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), AST standards, principles and scope of practice, ethical, legal, moral and cultural diversity of the patient population in the perioperative setting.
• Demonstrate proficient communication skills to effectively work as a member of the surgical team and professionally interact with patients and the healthcare community.
• Demonstrate a strong surgical conscience, self-discipline, professional work ethic and longstanding commitment to personal and educational growth.
• Sit for the National Board of Surgical Technology of Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) CST National Certification Exam.

The MCC Hartford Hospital Surgical Technology Program at Manchester Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). The program is accredited by the: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), www.caahep.org, 9355-113th St., N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775. Phone: (727) 210-2350. Fax: (727) 210-2354. Email: mail@caahep.org. Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting: 19751 East Main Street, Suite #339, Parker, CO 80138, Phone: (303) 694 - 9262, Email: info@arcstsa.org

Application to the Program

Consideration for admission to the MC Hartford Hospital Surgical Technology program follows a sequential application and selective admission process. The Surgical Technology applicant may not advance in the process if the prior step has not been completed.

1. Complete the following required non-core Surgical Technology courses (34 credits) or their equivalent, if transferring, and demonstrate a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all courses completed:

• BIO 2111 Anatomy & Physiology I  
• BIO 2112 Anatomy & Physiology II  
• BIO 2350 Microbiology  
• CCS 1001 - College & Career Success   
• COMM 1302 Interpersonal Communication  or COMM 1301 Public Speaking  
• ENG 1010 Composition  
• MATH 1001 - Quantitative Literacy   
• Any required pre-requisite course for BIO 2111  that is vetted in Scientific Reasoning or Scientific Knowledge and Understanding
• Elective: Any one course from General Education category - Social/Behavioral Science
• Elective: Any one course from General Education category - Arts and Humanities

2. Attend a virtual and/or in person Surgical Technology information session before the application deadline
3. Submit the CT State Community College General Application for Admission and choose ‘General Studies’ for your major. [Please note you will automatically be admitted to the college once required supplemental items are provided but must apply for the Surgical Technology Program separately (step 5).
4. Submit official copies of all transcripts. Electronic transcripts are encouraged, but paper copies are acceptable.

• For electronic transcripts, visit your previous institutions’ website for instructions on how to order online transcripts.
• To mail a transcript, please send it to CT State Community College
• Current CT State Community College students may submit unofficial transcripts to the Hartford Hospital Surgical Technology Program Director

5. Submit the online Surgical Technology Application.
6. Sit for ST program entrance literacy exam. Demonstrate a minimum score of 70 percent on ST program entrance exam to advance to step 7.
7. Attend an in-person interview with an oral and written component. After completing steps 1-7, the Surgical Technology Interview Committee will offer admission to ST applicants based on final rubric score and number of HHC facility scrub slots available. Students offered fall admission to the ST program are required to complete steps 8-10.
8. Attend Surgical Technology program orientation (scheduled for summer of admission year.)
9. Submit and pass a background check (paperwork provided at Surgical Technology program orientation).
10. Demonstrate that program’s physical standards are met through submission of current physical examination/immunization records (form provided at Surgical Technology program orientation).
11. Wear Surgical Technology program scrubs and appropriate personal protective equipment (as designated in Program Handbook) while on HHC campus and facilities.
12. Achieve/maintain a minimum grade of 2.5 GPA throughout the course to maintain program enrollment.