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A newsletter for the students, faculty and staff of the Collin College. Published monthly. For information or submissions, call 972.599.3142. Cougar News welcomes student and faculty submissions. Next deadline: May 10 All submissions are due by 5 p.m. on the due date. Photos cannot be returned. Text should be emailed to mrobinson@ccccd.edu or sent on disk. Please submit copy that is proofed, edited and saved in Word format. Cougar News staff: Lisa Vasquez, director; Mark Robinson, editor; Marcy Cadena-Smith, contributor; Dana Schmitz, contributor; Sydney Portilla-Diggs, campus correspondent; Stephanie Hall, student correspondent; Heather Darrow, special contributor; Sandy Suvannachakkham, special contributor; Kathryn Martin, special contributor; Nick Young, photographer and layout.
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Surgical technology degree added to healthcare
Collin College recently unveiled its new associate of applied science degree in surgical technology.
The degree will prepare students to assist in surgical operations and prepare the operating room by setting up surgical instruments and equipment and making sure equipment works properly. Surgical technicians also prepare the patient for surgery by washing, shaving and disinfecting incision areas, transporting the patients to the surgery area, observing patient vital signs, processing charges and generally assisting the surgical team. Surgical technicians are employed by hospitals and free-standing day surgery facilities, and as the volume of surgeries increases, the need for professionals such as surgical technicians also increases.
In 2004, the median salary for surgical technicians ranged from $33,130 in hospitals to $37,510 in dental offices. In areas of high demand and a shortage of qualified professionals, salaries climb to the mid-$40,000 range. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the surgical technology field is expected to grow by 27 percent in the coming years, the highest comparative level of any other occupation.
Additionally, the need for surgical technicians in Dallas is expected to grow by 31.74 percent and by 33.95 percent in north central Texas.
According to Dr. Merry McBryde-Foster, dean of Health Sciences and Emergency Services at Collin College, “Requiring the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Surgical Technology will provide a health science degree not widely available in the north central Texas area. This degree will provide well-prepared surgical technicians for the healthcare workforce.”
The new degree totals 68 credit hours including 13 hours of prerequisites. Prerequisites include Medical Terminology I, Anatomy and Physiology I and II and Introduction to the Healthcare System, being offered for the first time at Collin College this summer.
Admission to the program is selective and competitive. The deadline for applying to this program is Friday, June 1.
For more information, contact Lynne Meyer at 972.548.6778 or lmeyer@ccccd.edu or the Division of Health Sciences and Emergency Services Office, or visit www.ccccd.edu/surgtech.
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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