Neverland of surgery: Objects left inside patients

Article by: SARAH KLIFF , Washington Post
Updated: December 20, 2012 - 7:25 PM

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justwonderingDec. 21, 1212:38 PM

One contributing factor in medical errors in Minnesota is the lack of licensure or credentials for surgical technologists assisting the surgeon. Everyone in a Minnesota OR is licensed by the State EXCEPT the surgical technologists, who have no state minimum education, training or licensure requirements. Minnesota hospitals using surgical technologists that have passed national credentailing examinations have lower surgical medical errors than hospitals using noncredentialed surgical techs. The Minnesota Legislature needs to adopt standards for surgical techs so that surgical patients can be confident that everyone in the OR is trained and ready to serve the patient.