CST

The Reality of Taking Call as a Certified Surgical Technologist The Reality of Taking Call as a Certified Surgical Technologist As a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), being on-call is often part of the job description. Whether you work in a large hospital, small community facility, or ambulatory surgery center, understanding call responsibilities can help you navigate this challenging aspect of our profession. Why CSTs Take Call Healthcare facilities maintain on-call schedules to ensure emergency surgical capabilities outside regular hours (Association of Surgical Technologists [AST], 2022). For CSTs, this means being ready to respond when trauma cases, emergency surgeries, or unexpected complications arise. Call Requirements Vary by Facility Type Large Hospital Systems Typically have specialized call teams by service line (orthopedics, neurosurgery, etc.) Call schedules are often set 3-6 months in a...

Career Pathways for Surgical Technologists: Diverse Work Environments and Educational Opportunities Alternative Work Environments by Education Level Surgical Technologist with Diploma (Certification Only) 1. Dental Clinics • Average Annual Salary: $48,300 • Focuses on assisting oral surgeons and dental specialists • Involves preparing surgical suites, sterilizing instruments, and supporting dental procedures 2. Outpatient Ambulatory Surgical Centers • Average Annual Salary: $52,500 • Specializes in same-day surgical procedures • Requires adaptability to various quick surgical interventions 3. Veterinary Surgical Facilities • Average Annual Salary: $45,700 • Supports surgical procedures for animals • Requires specialized knowledge of veterinary surgical protocols 4. Medical Equipment and Supply Companies • Average Annual Salary: $54,200 • Provides technical support and product demonstrations • Utilizes surgical knowledge fo...

The Evolution and Specialized Role of Cardiovascular Operating Room Surgical Technologists Historical Foundations and Professional Development The cardiovascular operating room (CVOR) surgical technologist (CST) role emerged from 20th-century military medicine. During World War I and II, medics and naval corpsmen performed battlefield surgeries under surgeon supervision, laying the groundwork for modern surgical assisting 1 .  Post–Korean War nursing shortages prompted hospitals to repurpose ex-military personnel as operating room technicians (ORTs), who initially functioned as circulators while nurses scrubbed instruments 1 .  By 1969, the Association of Operating Room Technicians (AORT) established the Liaison Council on Certification (now the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, NBSTSA) to standardize training, administering the first CST exam in 1970 1 . The CVOR specialization evolved alongside cardiac surgery advancements in the 1980s, as procedu...

Hospitals in Rural Upstate New York Hospitals in Rural Upstate New York North Country Canton-Potsdam Hospital (Potsdam) Alice Hyde Medical Center (Malone) Adirondack Medical Center (Saranac Lake) Central New York Bassett Medical Center (Cooperstown) Little Falls Hospital (Little Falls) A.O. Fox Hospital (Oneonta) Southern Tier Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital (Bath) Chenango Memorial Hospital (Norwich) Delaware Valley Hospital (Walton) Finger Lakes Clifton-Fine Hospital (Star Lake) Jones Memorial Hospital (Wellsville) Nicholas H. Noyes Memorial Hospital (Dansville) Western New York Brooks-TLC Hospital System (Dunkirk) Olean General Hospital (Olean) Wyoming County Community Health System (Warsaw)

Hospitals in Upstate New York Urban Areas Hospitals in Upstate New York Urban Areas Buffalo Buffalo General Medical Center (Kaleida Health) Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Mercy Hospital of Buffalo (Catholic Health) Rochester Rochester General Hospital (Rochester Regional Health) Strong Memorial Hospital (University of Rochester Medical Center) Highland Hospital (University of Rochester Medical Center) Albany Albany Medical Center St. Peter’s Hospital (St. Peter’s Health Partners) Ellis Hospital Syracuse Upstate University Hospital (SUNY Upstate Medical University) Crouse Hospital St. Joseph’s Health Hospital Binghamton United Health Services Hospitals Lourdes Hospital (Ascension Health)

Hospitals in NYC Metro Area Hospitals in the New York City Metro Area Manhattan NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Mount Sinai Health System NYU Langone Health Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Lenox Hill Hospital (Northwell Health) Brooklyn Maimonides Medical Center NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County Brooklyn Hospital Center SUNY Downstate Medical Center Queens NewYork-Presbyterian Queens NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens Mount Sinai Queens The Bronx Montefiore Medical Center NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Staten Island Staten Island University Hospital (Northwell Health) Richmond University Medical Center

The Latest Advancements in Surgical Technology: Why CSTs Are More Vital Than Ever As surgical technology evolves at a rapid pace, Certified Surgical Technologists (CSTs) have become indispensable in bridging cutting-edge innovations with safe, efficient patient care. Below, we explore critical advancements reshaping the field and the expanding responsibilities of CSTs in each domain. 1.  Robotic-Assisted Surgery: CSTs as Technical Orchestrators CSTs are central to robotic surgery workflows, performing tasks that demand precision and technical expertise: Instrument Management : CSTs handle delicate robotic instruments, ensuring proper insertion, calibration, and exchange during procedures. For example, during da Vinci system operations, CSTs  verbally confirm instrument alignment  with surgeons before removal or insertion to prevent patient injury 1 4 . Troubleshooting : CSTs assist in resolving technical errors, leveraging system memory logs to diagnose issues mid-procedu...