Operation Theatre Technology is a detailed technical occupation in the field of health science. Also recognized by the names Operating Theatre Technicians (OTT), Surgical Scrubs and Operating Room Assistants, these nominal medical professionals are an important part of the operation unit team who work alongside with the surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurse in order to provide quality patient care throughout the surgery.
These technicians make sure that every single process in the operation theatre is as secure and flourishing as possible. Their prime duty is to take care of all the work and management of the operation theatre which comprise looking after all the surgical instruments, their sterilisation, preparation of dressing table, operation theatre table, instrument table as well as anesthesia table. They also look after the drugs necessary for
surgery, anesthetic gases, drapes and all the linen and their sterilisation. They bring together both sterile and non-sterile tools and at the same time regulate them to make sure that all are functioning appropriately.
Skills Needed:
Apart from the fundamental educational requirement, outstanding scientific skills, communication skills and behavioural skills are necessary for surgical technologists. An eye for detail, accuracy and critical thinking
is a must. Team work is essential as this job necessitate the person to work in partnership with other healthcare providers. Other prerequisites necessary are optimistic attitude, compassion and high levels of endurance and dedication. They must have the aptitude to work under minimal regulation, unpredictable shifts and long hours and must remain alert during operations. Surgical technologist also must have outstanding deftness to grip various instruments in complicated ways.
Career Prospects:
It is the Operation Theatre Technician who supervises the circumstances in the operating room and continually measures the requirement of the patient and surgical team. Surgical team members function in two
capacities, i.e. nonsterile and sterile. Throughout a surgical procedure, the area right away nearby the patient is referred to as the sterile field and anyone functioning in the sterile field must scrub and put on sterile gloves
and a gown. The sterile team members are the doctor, the surgical assistant, and the surgical technologist. During the surgery, scrub technicians in sterile field offer suction and retraction as engaged, and
hand the surgeon any essential instruments, sponges and other items. Technicians functioning outside the sterile field are said to be circulating, which means they help the other team members in monitoring the
significance of the patient and the procedure. They provide extra supplies and sterile instruments as required during the surgery, and assist the scrub tech maintain a count of pads and sponges in use.
Surgical Technicians clean and arrange the operating room prior to and after each procedure, ensuring that it is completely stocked with instrument and sterile disposable items. They must have the crucial
knowledge and aptitude to make sure quality patient care throughout the operative process and is constantly on watchfulness for upholding of the sterile field. Surgical technicians have differing tasks.
The major tasks executed by a surgical technician include:
- Get ready operating room for surgery;
- Arranging, checking, attaching/ detaching and adjusting surgical
equipment’s; - Give technical assistance to surgeons, nurses and anesthetists;
- Set patients comfortably for surgery;
- Get ready the patient for surgery by shaving and disinfecting
incision sites; - Supplying equipment according to instruction;
- Solutions and medications to the surgeon
- Sterile dressings at the end of surgery
- Locating patients to and from the theatre and wards
Academic Qualification:
Diploma in Operation Theatre Technician, BSc Surgical Technology and MSc Surgical Technology are the main courses in the field of OTT.
The eligibility criteria for the 2 year Diploma course is 10+2/ intermediate pass or its equal.
Course curriculum of surgical technology includes: meticulous classroom training in subjects like Anatomy and Physiology, Biomedical Science, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology etc. Basics of surgical procedures, equipment operation and handling skills are imparted during the course. The students are also gain provided hands-on clinical experience, attend seminars, computer-aided knowledge and visits to manufacturing units.
Remuneration:
Pay scale in surgical technology varies upon one’s qualification, knowledge and apparently the status of the hospital. Fresh graduates can anticipate something not less than Rs. 15,000 – Rs. 20,000. The salary of an individual increases with their experience.
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