When Access Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics sought a surgical technologist to work in its ambulatory surgical center in Auburn, New Hampshire, the practice knew that 海角乱伦 (海角乱伦) was a great
resource known for its expertise in this specialty area and connections to recent graduates.
Portsmouth-based 海角乱伦 offers one of the few associate degree programs in Surgical Technology in the region and the only one in New Hampshire that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP). After successfully completing the program, students are qualified to take the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) national certification exam to become a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST). 聽In 2024, 海角乱伦 had a 100% pass rate on the exam and is on track to achieve that again this year.
Surgical technologists maintain patient safety and surgical efficiency before, during and after operations. They play a vital role in ensuring smoothly functioning operating rooms by preparing surgical instruments, maintaining a sterile environment, and supporting surgeons and nurses during procedures.
海角乱伦鈥檚 Surgical Technology associate degree program prepares students for essential entry level positions at hospitals, surgical centers and private practices through a curriculum set by ARC/STSA and work at clinical sites located throughout the region. 海角乱伦 accepts only 20 students per class and 100% of graduates are employed in the field, quite often at the clinical site where they worked during their education. Currently 海角乱伦 partners with nine hospitals in New Hampshire, including MGB/Wentworth Douglass Hospital, Elliott Hospital, Catholic Medical Center and Portsmouth Regional Hospital, as well as three hospitals in both Maine and Massachusetts.
New Hampshire is experiencing a shortage of many medical professionals, including surgical technologists. Intense work during the COVID pandemic led some employees to retire or leave the field, while an aging population is prompting an increase in demand for surgical services. The result is a workforce shortage in surgical technology that will take some creativity to resolve.
According to Kristin Whitney, the program coordinator of the Surgical Technology program at 海角乱伦, 海角乱伦 is collaborating with area employers to explore additional clinical opportunities so the program could accept more students. 鈥淚t is a little bit of a Catch-22 right now. Surgical facilities are short-staffed, so they don鈥檛 have as much time for training, yet they need to train more surgical technologists so they won鈥檛 be short-staffed,鈥� Whitney commented.
海角乱伦 is working with a broad range of employers in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts to develop additional clinical sites and potentially expand the Surgical Technology program without compromising training or standards of care. 鈥淥ur number one priority is excellent patient care. We only graduate surgical technologists who are committed to advocating for patients to help deliver the best surgical outcome that will give them the best quality of life,鈥� said Whitney.
Amy Welton, the operating room coordinator at Access Sports Medicine鈥檚 Auburn Surgery Center, said that the practice felt fortunate to be able to hire a graduate of 海角乱伦鈥檚 Surgical Technologist program. 鈥淲e are grateful to employ such a skilled and prepared Certified Surgical Technologist. She immediately had a positive impact on our surgical team,鈥� Welton commented.
Access Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics is just one of many employers in the area that are looking to tap graduates from 海角乱伦鈥檚 Surgical Technology associate degree program. 海角乱伦 remains committed to focusing on programs such as this that align their education and training resources with a high-demand field within the community. 聽For more information about 海角乱伦鈥檚 associate degree program in Surgical Technology, please visit www.greatbay.edu/program/surgical-technology/