Surgical
Tech Accredited
Northern's
surgical technology program, under the direction of Sandra
Kontio, has received a 10-year continuing accreditation
award from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education
Programs (CAAHEP). The distinction recognizes the program for complying
with national standards established by the Accreditation Review
Committee for Surgical Technology. It also allows NMU students to
take the national certification exam, which is administered only
to graduates of accredited programs.
"I truly feel
that certification will soon become a requirement for employment
in the surgical environment, as it assures employers that the candidate
has been educated and trained with the knowledge base of an entry-level
surgical technologist," Kontio said. "With the expanding
role of the surgical technologist, it is very important that our
graduates meet the educational, competency and legal requirements
expected for all health care professionals. Our goal is not to get
the students jobs, but to make them competent surgical technologists."
Kontio said Northern's program is one of 15 in Michigan to receive
the CAAHEP seal of approval. The closest accredited programs are
in Cadillac and Green Bay, Wis. "Our graduates are very successful
at finding employment and we have students coming to study surgical
technology from throughout the Midwest," she added. "Our
employer satisfaction is also excellent."
Surgical
technology joins five other programs in the clinical laboratory
sciences department with full accreditations. They are: clinical
laboratory technician; clinical laboratory scientist; clinical assistant;
cytogenetics (diagnostic genetics major); and diagnostic molecular
scientist (diagnostic genetics major – molecular biology).
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