MN HF1094

Establishes definition of "surgical technology" as surgical patient care involving operating room preparation, sterilization of supplies and equipment, anticipating surgical team needs, and performing sterile field tasks including passing supplies, sponging operative sites, preparing suture material, transferring fluids, handling specimens, holding retractors, and counting supplies.

Requires health care facilities to employ surgical technologists who have completed an accredited educational program and hold a certified surgical technician credential from a nationally recognized certifying body accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and recognized by the American College of Surgeons and the Association of Surgical Technologists.

Allows health care facilities to employ uncertified individuals only if they make a diligent effort to hire qualified personnel and cannot find a sufficient number, with a waiver from the commissioner valid for no longer than six months.

Requires facilities to supervise each surgical technologist to monitor competent performance of delegated tasks following facility policies, procedures, and applicable state and federal laws.

Exempts licensed practitioners from the requirements when performing surgical technology tasks within their scope of practice and requires 15 hours of continuing education annually to maintain employment qualification.