Specific Program Information | HCTC

Education & Training

Specific Program Information

HCTC Surgical Technology
Associate of Applied Science Degree

Mission Statement:

Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who are an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients in a variety of settings such as medical offices, out-patient clinics, and the operating room. The surgical technologist works under medical supervision to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures. This individual works under the supervision of a surgeon to ensure that the operating room environment is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety.

Program Goals:

The Surgical Technology Program Goals are as follows:

  1. The program will enroll a cohort of students from surrounding areas each academic year.
  2. Use a variety of content literacy strategies to increase student s success and will survey students to identify needs and barriers.
  3. The program will provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for entry-level surgical technologist.
  4. The program will prepare competent graduates in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domain.
  5. The program will meet or exceed the criteria set forth in the current Standards and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program in Surgical Technology.
  6. Every student will demonstrate the development of a surgical conscience, recognize breaks in aseptic technique while taking corrective action, completing all clinical, laboratory, and didactic companies set by the core curriculum for surgical technology and surgical assisting and all requirements graduating with an AAS degree.
  7. Program will successfully prepare graduates to obtain employment by showing clinical facilities they can carry out surgical technologist duties in a stressful environment, displaying an attitude of empathy and professionalism, for all patients and co-workers.
  8. Program will prepare graduates to be successful on the national certification exam; all measures will be set forth on preparation for certification.
  9. All attempts will be made to ensure student will be satisfied with their educational experience in the program.
  10. To ensure that all employer requirements are satisfactorily meet to gain future collaboration with program graduates.

General Information:

The Surgical Technology Program is a two-year program leading to the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Surgical Technology. The curriculum consist of general education and surgical technology courses. Various facilities are utilized for clinical experience. With completion of the program pre-requisites, students can complete the surgical technology courses in two semesters.

Surgical technologist are allied health professionals who are an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients in a variety of settings as medical offices, out-patient clinics, and the operating room.

The surgical technologist works under medical supervision to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures. This individual works under the supervision of a surgeon to ensure that the operating room environment is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety.

This program provides clinical experience built upon classroom instruction in the basic sciences, patient care, aseptic techniques and surgical procedures. Clinical experiences in the Surgical Technology Program will consist of rotations through a variety of clinical sites designed to facilitate development of skills needed to function effectively. Graduates will be prepared to work in surgical technologist roles anywhere in the country. Students may be required to have a criminal background check and or drug screening done in order to enter the health care facilities for clinical.

Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical sites.

Expenses and Financial Assistance:

In addition to tuition, students are responsible for transportation to the various clinical sites, professional liability insurance, books, and uniforms. Any student seeking financial assistance should contact the Financial Aid Office at (606) 436-5721, extension 73061 or 73060.

Program Curriculum:

*Pre-requisite for entry into the program:
(Must be completed prior to taking SUR course)

General Education Requirements: 

*BIO 135 Basic Anatomy & Physiology with Lab OR 
4
*BIO 137 Human Anatomy & Physiology I and
4
*BIO 139 Human Anatomy & Physiology II
4
*CLA 131 Medical Terminology from Greek or Latin OR
3
*AHS 115 Medical Terminology OR
(3)
*MIT 103 Medical Office Terminology
(3)
*MAT 110 Applied Mathematics OR
3
  Higher Level Quantitative Reasoning
(3)
*ENG 101 Writing I
3
  *Social Interaction
3
  *History/Humanities Course
3
  **Digital Literacy (CIS 105)
0-3
 
Sub Total
22-26

*Note: All general education courses are pre-requisites for entry into the program and must be completed prior to taking SUR courses. All courses required for the Surgical Technology credentials must be completed with a grade of “C” or greater.

**Note: Digital Literacy must be demonstrated either by competency exam or by successfully completing a digital literacy course.  Documentation of computer literacy as defined by KCTCS is competency exam or college level courses: CIS 100, CIT 105, OST 105, CAD 103, DLC 100, IMD 100 or VCC 150. 

Surgical Technology Program Requirements:

First Semester 

SUR 109 Introduction into Surgical Technology
3
SUR 110 Surgical Technology Fundamentals
9
SUR 102 Surgical Technology Fundamentals Lab
3
SUR 117 Pathophysiology for Surgical Technology
3
SUR 125 Surgical Technology Skills Practicum I
2
 
Sub Total
 20

Second Semester 

SUR 201 Surgical Technology Skills Practicum II
6
SUR 202 Surgical Technology Advance Theory
11
SUR 275 Surgical Technology Advanced Practicum
2
 
Sub Total
19
 
Total Program Credits:
61-65

CPR for Healthcare Professionals must be completed prior to the first surgical technology skill practicum course and must be kept current throughout the Surgical Technology Program.

Application Process for Admission to the Program

Acceptance into the Surgical Technology Program is based on selected admission process. Selection of students for the program will be made by the president of the college or the president's designee after considering the recommendation of the Admission Committee. To be considered, each applicant must submit the following credentials by May 1 for admission to the fall semester. Program admits one time per year, courses begin in the Fall semester.

To be considered, each applicant must submit the following credentials by May 1 for admission to the fall semester. Program admits one time per year, courses begin in the Fall semester.

  1. Completed KCTCS college's admission application and requirements.
  2. Applicants must have a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
  3. Pre-admission conference will be required prior to admission to the Surgical Technology Program.
  4. Documentation of the completion of the Surgical Technology Program prerequisites with a grade of "C" or greater by start of the program.

Preference may be given to:

  1. Applicants with higher than minimum Assessment and Placement scores per the respective KCTCS college's requirements. 
  2. Applicants who have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4-point scale.

The application deadline for the HCTC Surgical Technology Program is May 1st.

The student is responsible for assuring their file is complete prior to the admissions deadline. If your file is not complete by the designated deadline of May 1 you are unable to be considered as an applicant for the Surgical Technology Program.

Re-Admission:

To be considered for readmission, each applicant must submit the following credentials by May 1 for the fall semester.

  1. A student who withdraws from or earns less than a grade of C in any course with the Surgical Technology Program prefix will be dropped from the Surgical Technology Program.
  2. Readmission to the Surgical Technology Program will be dependent upon available resources and the selective admission process. Application is not a guarantee of readmission to the program.
  3. The process for readmission to the program is as follows:
    1. Students who wish to apply for readmission to the program must do so by the same dates as for admission May 1 for the fall semester.
    2. Submit a written request to the Surgical Technology Program Coordinator including information to justify readmission.
    3. If more than one year has elapsed since initial enrollment in a Surgical Technology Program, the entire sequence of surgical technology courses must be repeated.
    4. A student may be readmitted to the Surgical Technology Program one (1) time. A student must have at least a minimum grade point average of 2.00.

Transferring:

To transfer, each applicant must submit the following credentials by May 1 for the fall semester. 

  1. Applicants who wish to transfer from one Surgical Technology Program to another must:
    1. Meet all admission requirements of the receiving institution;
    2. Apply for admission to the program by the dates indicated above;
    3. Notify the Coordinator of the Surgical Technology Program in writing, stating anticipated entry date and reason for transfer;
    4. Have a faculty member from the program previously attended submit a letter of recommendation to the receiving institution; and
    5. Submit an official transcript for evaluation by the Admissions Committee.
  2. If more than one year has elapsed since initial enrollment in a Surgical Technology Program, the entire sequence of surgical technology courses must be repeated. 
  3. Acceptance of any transfer student will be dependent upon available resources and the selective admission process.  Application is not a guarantee of acceptance to the program.

Technical Standards:

Surgical Technology involves the provision of direct care for individuals and is characterized by the application of verified knowledge in the skillful performance of surgical technology technical functions. Therefore, all applicants should possess sufficient:

  1. Visual acuity, such as is needed in the surgical environment and for the observation necessary for patient assessment and care.
  2. Auditory perception to receive verbal communication from patients and members of the health team and to assess health needs of people through the use of monitoring devices (e.g., cardiac monitors, biomedical equipment, fire alarms, etc.).
  3. Gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly and to implement the skills, including the manipulation of equipment, positioning and lifting patients required in meeting health needs related to surgical technology.
  4. Verbal and non-verbal communication skills (speech, reading, and writing), such as are needed in classroom and clinical settings to interact with patients and professional personnel.
  5. Intellectual and emotional functions to plan and implement care for individuals.

Contact Information:

Joanna Martin, Certified Surgical Technologist/
Certified Surgical Assistant
Professor / Program Coordinator
(606) 487-3166
Call toll-free: (800) 246-7521, ext. 73166
Fax: (606) 435-1117
E-Mail: Joanna.Martin@kctcs.edu 

Program Assistant
April Baker
(606) 487-3394
E-Mail: Melissa.Guier@kctcs.edu 

The Hazard Community and Technical College and the Surgical Technology Program is committed to a policy of providing educational opportunities to all qualified students and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, family medical history, or genetic information.  Further, we vigilantly prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, military service, or any other non-merit based factor. 

Students may be required to have a criminal background check and or drug screening done in order to enter the health care facilities for clinical. Students are responsible for the cost. Based on the results the facility has the right to deny students admission to the site for clinical. This may jeopardize the students academic success because the student may not be able to complete the required clinical experience of the program.

Student Outcomes:

Certification Examination Pass Rate:

 Outcomes Assessment Exam (OAE) pass-rate from the HCTC Surgical Technology Program:

Class Year
Number of
Examinees
1st Attempt Pass Rate
2nd Attempt Pass Rate
Percentage
Pass Rate
2018
8
63%
 
63%
2019
7
14%
  
14%
2020
6
17%
    17%
2021
6
50%
   50%
2022
7
14%
   14%

Employment Rate:

 Percentage of graduates who were seeking employment as a surgical technologist within twelve months of graduation:

 

Class Year
Employment Rate
2018
100%
2019
100%
2020
100%
2021
83%
2022
100%

Surgical Technology Program Accreditation:

The Hazard Community and Technical College Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon the recommendation of Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).

CAAHEP

9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Telephone: (727) 210-2350
Fax: (727) 210-2354
E-Mail: www.caahep.org
Website: http://www.caahep.org

 

ARC/STSA

19751 East Mainstreet, Suite #339
Parker, CO 80138
Telephone: (303) 694-9262
Fax: (303) 741-3655
Email: info@arctsa.org 
Website: www.arcstsa.org