TU: Health Notes: New program trains hospital workers to become surgical technologists

Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Surgical Technology Workforce Certificate program has created a partnership with Baptist Health and Memorial Hospital to train hospital workers who currently hold positions in various departments at the hospitals, including billing and insurance clerks, floor technicians and nursing assistants, to become surgical technologists.

The program is designed to allow students to continue as full-time employees at the hospitals, maintaining their pay and benefits. When the students complete the program and earn their certification, they will be promoted within their facility. With these certificates, the graduates will earn significantly more than they are in their current positions.

This partnership addresses the shortage of well-qualified, certified surgical technologists in the Jacksonville area. The first cohort of 12 students began in October 2016 and will complete the program this October. A second cohort of 12 Baptist Health and Memorial Hospital workers will begin the surgical technology program in November.