BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 2062
                                                                  Page  1

          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 2062 (Roger Hernández)
          As Amended August 21, 2014
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |76-0 |(May 19, 2014)  |SENATE: |31-1 |(August 25,    |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2014)          |
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           Original Committee Reference:   HEALTH  

           SUMMARY  :  Prohibits a health facility from employing a surgical  
          technologist unless the individual has completed an accredited  
          educational program and obtained certification as a surgical  
          technologist.  Grandfathers in surgical technologists who were  
          employed in health facilities prior to January 1, 2015.

           The Senate amendments  clarify that all surgical technologists  
          must complete continuing education credits.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  None

           COMMENTS  :  According to the author, surgical technologists are  
          the only member of the surgical team with no mandated minimum  
          level of education, training, or certification.  The author  
          states that surgical technologists are key members of the  
          surgical team in any operating room responsible for the  
          environmental disinfection, safety, and efficiency and that this  
          is important because surgical site infections (SSIs)  
          significantly drive up health care costs.  The author asserts  
          that nationwide, hospital costs are estimated at $20,785 per  
          SSI, accounting for $3.3 billion in annual United States health  
          care costs and this bill will improve patient care safety while  
          lowering health care costs by raising the education and training  
          standards for surgical technologists in California. 

          Eight states have minimum education and certification  
          requirements for surgical technologists:  Idaho, Indiana,  
          Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee,  
          and Texas.  Data from Virginia indicate that facilities  
          utilizing certified surgical technologists reduced the costs  
          associated with extended stays due to SSIs by 11%.

          The California State Council of the Service Employees  








                                                                  AB 2062
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          International Union is the sponsor of this bill and states,  
          there are no training or educational standards for surgical  
          technologists in California even though accredited training  
          programs give surgical technologists an unparalleled  
          understanding of how to maintain a sterile field and allows them  
          to anticipate the needs of the surgical team.  The sponsors  
          argue that accredited training programs and certification and  
          the experience of the current workforce will contribute to lower  
          the rates of SSIs and adverse surgical events, improving patient  
          safety.

          There is no opposition to this bill.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Lara Flynn / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097 


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