Advocates for House Bill 1598 speak in support of the legislation in Springfield. [BlueRoomStream]

The Illinois House is considering a bill to require certification for surgical technologists. 

Surgical technologists work alongside surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses in the operating room, maintaining the sterile environment, applying dressings to surgical sites and disposing of needles and gauze.  

The majority of hospitals require some level of certification or degree when hiring surgical technologists, but there is currently no law requiring them to do so. House Bill 1598 would create this requirement.  

“We want to change that today to make sure you know every time you or your loved one go under the knife, that you can be guaranteed that everyone around that operating table has been properly educated and properly trained,” said Margaret Vaughn, government affairs director for the Illinois State Assembly of Surgical Technologists.  

Under HB 1598, surgical technologists will have to complete one of five educational requirements.  

The first is completing a nationally accredited education program from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools and holding a certification from a national certifying body. If a technologist has completed the education program but does not yet have the certification, they will have 18 months from their hiring date to achieve that certification.  

Surgical technologists can meet the requirement if they are registered under the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act. Technologists who have completed a training program for surgical technology in the military or the United States Public Health Service will also meet the certification requirement. 

Finally, anyone who worked as a surgical technologist at a hospital registered under the Hospital Licensing Act or an ambulatory surgical treatment center licensed under the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act before the Jan. 1, 2027 effective date will meet the licensing requirement.  

The act includes exemptions for medical facilities in Health Professional Shortage Area or Medically Underserved Area, which are federal designations for areas with limited healthcare facilities or staffing. The act says facilities within these areas should still give preference to certified technologists.  

Brooke Oliver, program director of surgical technology at Richland Community College, said surgical technologists work with surgical robots, lasers and power equipment. She said they prepare and deliver medications and prevent surgical fires. She said their role in the operating room is important and that’s why certification should be required by law.  

“Surgical technologists are the surgeon's right hand, man or woman,” she said. “We work closely and directly next to the surgeon during your entire operation. We anticipate the surgeons every step. We retract to manipulate body tissue and organs. We prepare and pass instrumentation, and above all, we are your loved one's voice when they are anesthetized, to ensure patient safety.”  

Dr. Christopher Wottowa, an orthopedic surgeon at Springfield Clinic, said his surgical technologist told him about the growing number of uncertified technologists being hired. He said in his 35 years as a surgeon he’d never worked with an uncertified technologist, but some hospitals and clinics see it as a way to save money.  

He said it’s essential that everyone working on surgery has the knowledge to successfully do their job. 

 “We use a whole spectrum of complicated equipment, drills that have to be inspected, cleaned, cared for, lasers, every type of possible microscopic instrument you can imagine;, the job is impossible,” he said. “If there's ever a team sport, it's surgery. And if you want to cut corners there, I'm not going to be involved.”  

Vaughn said the measure also looks to combat online, non-accredited education programs that became popular following the pandemic. She said people in these programs watch videos but receive no proper testing, especially not hands-on testing like many community colleges offer. She said they leave with a certification but do not have the needed experience to perform the job, meaning many don’t get hired.  

The measure cleared the House Health Care Licenses Committee March 19 on an 8-5 vote. It received its second reading but will be returned to the committee with two amendments.