Development of the Surgical Technology Field
Twentieth-century wars revolutionized surgery in many ways. The rapid succession of three major wars that involved the United States—World War II and the wars in Korea and Vietnam—created a higher demand for surgeons. Military surgeons developed sophisticated techniques that improved survival rates for wounded soldiers. They also needed skilled assistants who could work under battlefield conditions to supplement available nursing staff, many of whom were not permitted on battlefields or ships that served as floating hospitals. (CareerToolkits, 2008)
The surgical technology field dates to World War I, when surgical technicians provided first-line treatment to wounded soldiers. During World War II, the Army and Navy trained corpsmen to handle surgical technician responsibilities because nurses—who provided many of the same services in civilian practice—were not permitted on ships where many soldiers ended up in surgery. The Army trained surgical technicians to become operating room technologists at field-based hospitals as well to supplement nursing staff. (CareerToolkits, 2008, Allied Health World, 2008)
By the time of the Korean War, U.S. military surgeons routinely relied on medical technicians during surgery. (Allied Health World, 2008) This practice continued during the war in Vietnam and in present-day wars.
Civilian hospitals recognized the need for additional allied health staff and began implementing formal training programs for surgical technologists in the 1960s. Community colleges began teaching courses to train surgical technologists in the 1970s. (Allied Health World, 2008)
In 1969, members of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the American Hospital Association (AHA), and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) organized the Association of Operating Room Technicians to represent the emerging field. (AST, 2009) The Association was later renamed Association of Surgical Technologists. (CareerToolkits, 2008)
Learn more about studying in a Surgical Technology program offered at some Anthem College and Anthem Institute campuses and The Bryman School of Arizona. Visit our Web site or call us at 1.866.502.2627.
Sources:
“About AST.” Association of Surgical Technologists. AST, 2009. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.
“Surgical Technologist Information.” Allied Health World. XYZ Media, Inc., 2008. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.
“What You Should Know About a Surgical Technologist Career.” CareerToolkits.com. CareerToolKits.com, 2008. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.
