Surgical technician

A new chapter opener describes the work and career of a surgical technician. 

Individuals employed in industries that use or make benzene or products containing benzene may be exposed to the highest concentrations of benzene. The National Occupational Exposure Survey (NOES), conducted by NIOSH from 1981 to 1983, estimated that approximately 272,300 workers employed in various professions were potentially exposed to benzene in the United States. Approximately half of these workers were employed in general medical and surgical hospitals, and their occupations included nurses and aides, physicians, technicians, technologists, therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, and janitors (NIOSH 1989). The NOES database does not contain information on the frequency, concentration, or duration of exposure the survey provides only estimates of workers potentially exposed to chemicals in the workplace. The current OSHA permissible limit for an 8-hour TWA exposure to benzene is 1 ppm and a... 

This box is completed by the pharmacist or pharmacy technician at the same time as the prescription form is stamped at the top left-hand corner. The figure entered into this box will be the total number of prescription items on the form. This figure will include any items which attract more than one prescription charge (e.g. surgical stockings, some HRT, etc.). For further details on prescription charging, see Section 2.4.1). 

According to the National Occupational Exposure Study (NOES) conducted by NIOSH from 1981 to 1983, the following estimated number of workers were potentially exposed to Aroclors in the workplace 2,214 to Aroclor 1242 3,702 to Aroclor 1254 991 to Aroclor 1260 and 1,558 to Aroclor 1016 (NIOSH 1989). Occupational exposure to Aroclors occurs in miscellaneous workers in the transformer industry, noncellulose fiber industry, semiconductor and related industries, and in sawmills and planing mills. It also occurs in clinical laboratory technicians and technologists of general medical and surgical hospitals. The NOES database does not contain information on the frequency, concentration, or duration of occupational exposure to any of the chemicals listed. The survey provides estimations of the numbers of workers for whom potential exposure in the worlq)lace is an issue. Since this study was conducted from 1981 to 1983, it does not accurately represent current worlq)lace exposure to PCBs. 

The shortcomings in these areas include incomplete and inconsistent medication history in patient charts, pharmaceutical care not provided routinely, large number of abbreviations used on preprinted forms and in medication communications (verbal and written), medication brands changed without the knowledge of surgical teams or technicians, hazardous chemical found in close proximity to products designated for patient use, top of anesthesia carts cluttered, medication "stashes" found in selected areas, inconsistent preoperative teaching of patients, and inconsistent system of double-checks [10]. 

Veterinary science is a medical science dealing with the study, research, prevention, and treatment of disease in animals and the relation of animal disease to human health. It deals with the health of individual animals and groups of animals. Veterinary scientists include veterinarians who treat animal patients, research veterinary scientists who work in academic and private research laboratories, and technicians and technologists who assist veterinarians and veterinarian scientists. Veterinarians provide health care to companion animals and livestock. They play an important role in maintaining a wholesome food supply. Veterinary scientists involved in research are instrumental in the development of medicine, treatments, and surgical procedures applicable to both humans and animals. 

Other careers in veterinary science requiring less study and training are those of veterinary technician (two-year program) or technologist (four-year program). Veterinary technicians and technologists work in clinics and in research facilities. They assist veterinarians with animals in the examination room and in the surgical room and are responsible for the daily care of hospitalized and laboratory animals. They also perform laboratory procedures, keep records, and assist with client education. 

Dental biomaterials and surgical implants require different properties oesthetic appearance, good durability, and good mechanical properties at ambient temperatures are criticol to the former, while biocompatibility and flexural strength ore essential to the latter. Dental biomaterials ore continually developed to satisfy the demands of patients, dentists, and dental technicians. 

During the simulation-based team training, eight half-day sessions were mn for a total of 59 participants. The sessions involved surgical and anaesthetic specialist nursing staff (n = 21 and n = 12 respectively), anaesthetic specialists and trainees (n = 8 and n = 6), theatre technicians (n = 8) and surgical trainees (n = 4). A separate evaluation of the half-day program was provided by 18 of the 59 participants (response rate of 31 per cent) a summary is provided in Table 19.1. 

Error at the blunt end (latent conditions) Management decision to have the surgical count performed by only one technician (no double check) Equipment designed with poor display design making it hard to identify numbers... 

Up until 1963, the acetabular cups used at Wrightington were fabricated either by Chamley himself at his home workshop or by technicians at the hospital workshop in Wrightington [17, 18] (Figure 4.6). Chamley s home workshop was used to develop implant prototypes, as well as instruments. His 1/2 hp lathe, purchased in 1946, is now on display at the Thackray museum in Leeds. Chamley s biography recounts that throughout his life, he was able to mock up any surgical device in his workshop, and try it out himself before having it manufactured. ... 

External maxillofacial prosthetics is a science that uses substitutes for anatomical, functional or cosmetic restorations of those regions in the maxiUa, mandible and face that are missing or defective because of surgical intervention as a result of accident, disease or congenital malformation [4], Facial prostheses offer the advantage of immediate reversible solutions and less compHcated medical rehabihtation, but they require artistic skills by maxillofacial technicians and the materials used need to be designed with amenable physical properties. The primary materials for facial prostheses are silicone elastomers. 

---