The program was developed with the intent to prepare qualified EAH employees in becoming safe and competent scrub techs who assist surgeons in the operating room. The apprentices will be provided with necessary knowledge and skills using a variety of teaching methods, including lecture, discussions with surgeons, hands-on simulations, videos, written tests, lab time, and clinical rotations in the operating room and in Central Sterile. This 6-month comprehensive training program will cover topics such as roles of the operating team, equipment, positioning devices and furniture, fire safety and other safety standards, personal protective equipment, room setup, sterilization, instrument set-up, environmental cleaning, medical terminology, pharmacology, anatomy, surgical counting, handwashing and surgical scrub, gowning and gloving, and more.
“The scrub tech performs a vital role in the Operating Room,” states Chris Watson, director of Perioperative Services. “In addition to OR room preparation, the scrub tech assists the surgeon during surgical procedures by anticipating the surgeon’s needs to make sure the procedure is executed smoothly. This is a crucial role in the quality, efficiency and productivity of a surgical suite. This job role is in high demand since the day-to-day functionality of the OR depends on the presence of a scrub tech.”
Classroom training will run through October 7. At that time, the apprentices will complete their final check-offs and begin 3-week rotations in each surgical specialty area, such as general, ortho, gyn, and vascular. These rotations should be completed by the end of February 2023, and will be followed by focused orientations for each scrub tech apprentice in the areas where they will work.
Here’s a group picture from the first class session on Aug. 29. Pictured from left to right are (front row): Jorden Crosson (OR supervisor), Tyreshia Levett, Deandra Hyatt, DeAndrea Dawson, and Chris Watson (OR director). On the back row are April Carlisle (OR nurse manager), Bonnie Serda, Alashious Avery, Kimberly Norris, and Ashley Hodgdon (OR nurse educator).
Three SAW Grads Among First Six Apprentices
A lot of activities and programs were interrupted by COVID-19 between 2020 - 2022, but one initiative that didn’t lose steam is the School At Work (SAW) program. Each SAW class was able to graduate on time. That’s good news as this new Scrub Tech Apprenticeship program has three 2022 SAW graduates (Alashious Avery, Deandra Hyatt and Kimberly Norris) among the first six apprentices. Plus, a fourth, Tyreshia Levett, is participating in the 2022-2023 SAW class. Susan Johnston, VP of Human Resources, is excited to see these employees growing in their careers at EAH. “It is exciting to see our SAW graduates advancing within our organization,” said Johnston. “These students have put in the hard work to get where they are today and it speaks to the success of the program that 3 of our recent grads have moved into our onsite scrub tech program. Their hard work and dedication assisted them in securing these roles and I couldn’t be prouder!”
SAW 2022 grads: Alashious Avery, Kimberly Norris and Deandra Hyatt
