New PA Law to Benefit Lackawanna’s Surgical Technology Program
SCRANTON, Pa. – Nov. 17, 2020 – A new Pennsylvania law requiring all surgical technologists to graduate from an accredited program, pass an accredited exam and complete 15 hours of continuing education each year was signed by Governor Tom Wolf on October 29.
Prior to the new law, unlike surrounding states, surgical technologists in PA were not required to graduate from an accredited program. Lackawanna College’s accredited surgical technology degree is one of 15 programs available in the Commonwealth and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Mary Lou Dotzel, Lackawanna College’s Surgical Technology Program Director, who also serves on the Board of Directors for the PA State Assembly, believes this is an important win for patient safety.
“With students receiving the proper training and certification, surgical patients in Pennsylvania are privileged to quality care and more positive outcomes, as they are receiving care from surgical technologists who are well-prepared for their field,” said Dotzel. “Our program will be essential to adding skilled surgical technologists to Pennsylvania hospitals and healthcare centers.” Dotzel added, “Surgical technologists are currently in demand in our surrounding areas.”
The College’s Surgical Technology Program combines classroom instruction with mock surgical procedures performed in a state-of-the-art skills lab. This better prepares the student for real-life clinical rotation experience, which is completed at local and regional hospitals. When students complete the program, they are eligible to sit for the national certification exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
To learn more about Lackawanna College’s Surgical Technology Program, visit www.lackawanna.edu/surgicaltech.