OH SB291

Establishes requirements for practicing surgical technology in Ohio hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities, defining surgical technology as patient care during surgical procedures including operating room preparation, handling sterile supplies, passing instruments, sponging, suctioning, and assisting the surgical team.

Requires persons practicing surgical technology to be either a licensed health professional (physician, osteopath, physician assistant, registered nurse, or licensed practical nurse) or meet one of four conditions: active practice in the six months before enactment, valid national certification as a surgical technologist, completion of military or public health service surgical technology training, or federal employment as a surgical technologist.

Allows facilities to employ persons who graduated from accredited surgical technology programs for one year following graduation or the law's effective date, whichever applies later.

Requires annual completion of at least 15 hours of continuing education in surgical technology for certain practitioners and mandates facilities verify annually that all surgical technology practitioners meet statutory requirements.

Permits the director of health to grant waivers and six-month extensions to facilities unable to comply, with authority to inspect facilities and impose fines for non-compliance through administrative rules.