Offered at Main Campus
The Surgical Technology program is offered at Indian Hills Community College through a distance education agreement with Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Students take the Surgical Technology courses on the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) in Ottumwa and the Arts and Sciences courses are taken at IHCC. Labs are provided at Ottumwa Regional Hospital and clinic sites are assigned in eastern/central Iowa, etc. This 5 term program, which begins each fall, prepares students to provide care to patients during surgery and assist the surgical team in the operating room. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Surgical Technology from Kirkwood Community College. This option provides students with a range of professional opportunities throught their career. AAS graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam for surgical technologists.
Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who are an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients in a variety of settings. The surgical technologist works under medical supervision to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures. This individual works under the supervision of a surgeon to ensure that the operating room or environment is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safely.
To apply to the Surgical Technology program students must: 1) complete a Kirkwood College Application (online at www.kirkwood.edu); 2) complete an IHCC application to take the Arts and Sciences courses; 3) send high school transcripts or High School Equivalency Diploma scores, plus any additional transcripts, to Kirkwood Community College and Indian Hills Community College; 4) take the ACT or ACCUPLACER test. This may be arranged through the IHCC Testing Center at (641) 683-5142 or (800) 726-2585, extension 5142; and 5) attend a scheduled Program Conference; 6) complete the prerequisite courses Human Anatomy, Human Anatomy Lab, and Medical Terminology with a C- or better. All of these requirements must be met prior to acceptance. Students are admitted on a first-come-first-serve basis. Notification of acceptance will be sent from Kirkwood Community College.
This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) based on the recommendations of the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC-STRA). CAAHEP may be contacted at 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763, or (712) 210-2350 or www.caahep.org. ARC-STSA can be contacted at 6 West Dry Creek Circle, Suite 110, Littleton, CO 80120 or www.arcst.org.
Criminal background, health physical, current immunizations, health insurance, mandatory reporting, HIPAA, OSHA, drug screening, dependent adult and child abuse record checks, and additional compliance items are required prior to beginning any clinical courses.
Program Total: 65.5 - 67.5 Credits
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