POTTSTOWN PA – A partnership between three local organizations has led to development of a new skill certification program. It’s expected to prepare students for work as future employees in the field of surgical equipment sterilization.
The three are Pottstown Hospital-Tower Health, Montgomery County Community College, and the Pottstown High School Career and Technology Education Program. Together they have introduced local “sterile processing technician” classes, already under way.
Its graduates are anticipated “to enter the healthcare field with valuable, employable skills,” says Joe Rusiewicz, executive director of the Foundation for Pottstown Education. Just as importantly, he adds, the certification program “fills a regional workforce need.”
Steris Healthcare, a global provider of patient care products and services, reports there has been an increasing demand for certified technicians.
Although they work behind the scenes, Steris notes that technicians “play a huge role in patient safety” by minimizing and avoiding infection risks. They ensure instruments and devices used in surgical procedures are cleaned, disinfected, sterilized, assembled, packed, and stored.
Clinical Training, Classroom Instruction
The Pottstown certification program combines comprehensive classroom instruction with hands-on clinical training. Its design, the foundation says, intends to equip students with specialized skills needed for roles in hospital and surgical settings.
Participants will gain expertise in sterilization processing techniques, decontamination procedures, processing of reusable instrumentation, and aseptic techniques.
Once they successfully complete training, students will be eligible to take an exam to become a Certified Registered Central Service Technician. The credential is offered by Healthcare Sterile Processing Association.
Students age 18 and older who complete the course and pass the exam are eligible to be hired at the hospital. The certification program also is available to the community. It “offers a clear, accessible pathway to a rewarding healthcare career,” while also supporting community health and workforce needs, according to Dr. Rosann Bar, the college’s dean of academic innovation.
“Pottstown has a willing and cooperative hospital with which to train young people for a career in medicine,” says Dr. Myra Forrest, chair of the hospital Board of Trustees. The benefits of the high school, the college, and the hospital “working together on this project are enormous,” Forrest observes.
Grant Assists High School Students
Funding for Pottstown students’ participation was secured by the Foundation for Pottstown Education, through what Rusiewicz describes as “a generous grant” from the Justamere Foundation and Pottstown Hospital’s Community Engagement Department.
“Certification programs like this one can make a huge impact on a student’s lifetime earning ability, Justamere President Lori Cushman says. “Justamere Foundation is happy to work with the Foundation for Pottstown Education to target the most effective programs, with the highest potential for long-term prosperity,” Cushman notes.
“This partnership represents a tremendous opportunity to bridge the gap between education and workforce development,” Rusiewicz suggests. “It provides our students with a head start on a meaningful, well-paying career.” It also “reflects the power of collaboration between schools, community colleges, healthcare providers, and local foundations.”
Pottstown students’ photo provided by the Foundation for Pottstown Education
Top photo by Comstock on FreeImages.com, used by Travels With The Post under license
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