NY State CS Certification Bill

(See Petition Information/Link below Article)

CS bill introduced in New York

February 2, 2007

The following is reprinted from Healthcare Purchasing News Online from January 30, 2007.

The State of New York has introduced an act to amend the education law, in relation to central service technicians; and to amend the public health law, in relation to the provision of central supply services. Article 167 Bill A3220 for Central Service Technicians, introduced by Assemblyman Jonathan L. Bing will soon go to vote.

According to the Bill, the practice of the profession of a Central Services Technician is defined as a person who provides the services of decontamination, preparation, packaging, sterilization, and storage of reusable medical instrumentation or devices in hospitals. 2. A Central Services Technician Overseer is an individual who is licensed as a central services technician pursuant to this article and who otherwise meets the educational, training, and experience qualifications for an overseer as determined by the commissioner. Only a person licensed or exempt under this article may perform central supply services or use the title Central Service Technician.

1. To qualify for a license as a central service technician, an applicant must fulfill the following requirements: (a) File an application with the department. (b) Receive an education in accordance with the commissioner’s regulations. (c) Have experience in accordance with the commissioner’s regulations. (d) Be of good moral character, as determined by the department. (e) Be a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States. (f) Pay an initial fee of one hundred fifty dollars, and a triennial registration fee of one hundred fifty dollars thereafter.

2. (a) To qualify as a Central Services Technician Overseer, a person must be licensed under subdivision one of this section and must meet the educational, training, and experience qualifications determined by the commissioner. (b) The commissioner shall establish minimum educational, training, and experience criteria as qualifications for a central services technician overseer.

This act shall take effect January 1, 2008, provided, however, that effective immediately the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the timely implementation of this act on its effective date is hereby authorized and directed to be made on or before such effective date.

SIGN THE PETITION FOR MANDATORY CERTIFICATION OF CENTRAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS............

SPREAD THE WORD Did you know this….. when choosing where to have a surgical procedure people think more of the doctor who is going to do the surgery and they trust that all will be well because they have a prominent doctor. But what you don’t know is that the group of people who will be making sure the surgical instruments are cleaned and sterilized properly may have not had enough training or skills to perform those duties. Not by any fault of their own but because currently there are no guidelines to regulate the hiring and training of these essential staff.

The NYS Assn for Central services have been lobbying for changes requiring formal education and training for individuals who are involved in the preparation and sterilization of surgical instruments. As receivers of medical services we deserve the best by healthcare professionals of all trades. Currently in NY anyone without previous training or knowledge can be hired to decontaminate, assemble and sterilize surgical instruments. As a result, surgical instrumentation improperly cleaned may potentially be given to the surgeon to perform surgery causing surgical site infections and/or detrimental outcomes to the patient. NY has a legislative bill in the Assembly and in the Senate which will require individuals involved in this process to have formal education, and therefore mandatory certification through the State.

Petitioning our Legislators to pass into law a bill requiring mandatory certification to perform this job will ensure that the outcome of patient care is positive and there are no adverse consequences.

Stop and TAKE ACTION and be a catalyst to raising the standard of quality of service to patients. Sign the NYS Association of Central Service petition NOW!!

Highlight, copy and paste the below URL to connect to the petition (or press the ctrl key + click to follow link below).http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Licensing-for-Central-Service-Technicians

Thank you for taking your time to read this petition. Take further action by forwarding this e-mail to 10 of your friends within 15 minutes of receiving it. Remember it does not have to be to someone who works in a hospital it can be your friend, relative, neighbor or colleagues. By forwarding you will become an activist!!! For more information http://www.nycentralservice.org/lobbyingday.html

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Mary Olivera

PO Box 1925

Newburgh, NY 12551

347-538-1997 (cell)

Greater Rochester & Finger Lakes Central Service Association

PO Box 89

Webster, New York 14580