HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1864

                      As Passed House:

                       March 11, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the registration of surgical technologists.

Brief Description:  Providing for the registration of surgical technologists.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Health Care (Originally sponsored by Representatives Cody, Boldt, Campbell, Wood and Koster).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  3/1/99, 3/2/99 [DPS];

Appropriations:  3/4/99, 3/7/99 [DPS(HC)].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/11/99, 95-0.

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Establishes a registration program for surgical technologists administered by the Department of Health.

$Requires persons representing themselves as surgical technologists to register with the department.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Cody, Democratic Co-Chair; Parlette, Republican Co-Chair; Pflug, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander; Boldt; Campbell; Conway; Edmonds; Edwards; Mulliken and Ruderman.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Health Care be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 31 members:  Representatives Huff, Republican Co-Chair; H. Sommers, Democratic Co-Chair; Alexander, Republican Vice Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; D. Schmidt, Republican Vice Chair; Barlean; Benson; Boldt; Carlson; Clements; Cody; Crouse; Gombosky; Grant; Kagi; Keiser; Kenney; Lambert; Linville; Lisk; Mastin; McIntire; McMorris; Mulliken; Parlette; Regala; Rockefeller; Ruderman; Sullivan; Tokuda and Wensman.

Staff:  Deborah Frazier (786-7152).

Background:

Surgical technologists are non-regulated personnel principally employed by hospitals as part of the operating room team which works under the supervision of surgeons to perform certain skills and aseptic techniques commonly associated with the "scrub" role during surgery.  Some are employed by ambulatory surgery centers, or private physician operating suites.

At the request of the Legislature, the question of the need for regulating surgical technologists was referred to the Department of Health and the Board of Health for findings and recommendations under the Sunrise Review Act.  The department and the board jointly recommend that surgical technologists be registered under the secretary in order to establish standards and provide oversight through the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

Summary of Bill:

There is a declaration of legislative intent that the registration of  surgical technologists is in the public interest.

A surgical technologist is defined as a person, regardless of title, who is supervised in the surgical setting under the authority of a health practitioner acting within the scope of his or her license.

A surgical technologist representing himself or herself as a surgical technologist is required to register with the department.  Exemptions from the registration requirement are specified.

The department is authorized to adopt rules, set registration fees and administer the registration program.  The Uniform Disciplinary Act governs the discipline of surgical technologists for unprofessional conduct, and the Secretary of Health acts as the disciplining authority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  (Health Care) (substitute) There is a need to regulate surgical technologists working the surgical setting.  There is a risk to patients and a need to establish standards and oversight.

(Appropriations)  None.

Testimony Against:  (Health Care) None.

(Appropriations) None.

Testified:  (Health Care) (substitute) Janice Olmsted, STOWS; C.J. Welter, Association of Operating Room Nurses; and Patty Hayes, Department of Health.

(Appropriations) None.