Surgical Processing Technician
Certificate Program

Students are introduced to the importance of the Central Service Department and its role in providing quality patient care. Government regulations and standards, infection prevention and control, quality assurance, safety, communication, and human relations skills are discussed. Familiarizes students with the major body systems and related surgical procedures. Medical terms and abbreviations used in surgery are emphasized.

Study of the basic categories of surgical instruments (simple to complex); processing standards accompanying flash sterilization; concepts of inventory management; and management of commonly used patient-care equipment.

Prerequisite or Corequisite: SPT100

Provides an overview of the sterile packaging process, including reusable and disposable packaging materials. Factors impacting sterilization, including steam, dry heat, ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide (gas plasma), and ozone are discussed.

Prerequisite: SPT110

Provides an overview of water purification systems, factors impacting water quality, distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis systems, cleaning chemicals, and various methods of cleaning and decontamination. Includes tours to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and medical offices.

Prerequisite: SPT110

Supervised practical work-experience program in a sterile processing environment which provides students with hands-on experience. Didactic and laboratory skills acquired in the program are applied in the clinical setting.

Prerequisite: Departmental approval

On-campus seminars focus on integrating the skills learned throughout the program with the work experience.

Corequisite: SPT150

Provides a solid foundation and understanding of the medical language used by healthcare professionals. This is accomplished through the introduction, reinforcement, and combining of medical word parts including prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms. Emphases are on word building, analysis of parts of the word, abbreviations, spelling, and correct pronunciation of various body systems including the musculoskeletal, digestive, nervous, and integumentary, as well as the senses.

Students continue to develop their understanding of the medical terms that are used regarding various body systems. There is an emphasis on combining word parts (prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms) to create full medical terms including the cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, endocrine, lymphatic, and reproductive systems.

Prerequisite: HEA200

Explores career development opportunities and strategies. Stresses entry-level job requirements and upward career paths. Covers resume writing skills, interviewing techniques, and the importance of professionalism. Continues the student's orientation to Berkeley College’s computer framework, which includes content collection and compiling a professional e-portfolio.

An introduction to computer technology with an emphasis on applications. Students learn how to use software packages, such as Microsoft Windows, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Includes an orientation to Berkeley College’s computer framework, which includes Blackboard, content collection, and portfolio development.

The morphology and function of microorganisms, especially viruses and bacteria, are studied. The characteristics of microorganisms, the disease process, and the immune response are discussed.

This course provides an understanding of the legal, moral, and ethical issues involved in the healthcare environment, including laws and standards that protect both the healthcare professional and patient. In addition, the bioethics component of the course focuses on the study of the ethical controversies involved in the practice of medicine including euthanasia, abortion, doctor-patient confidentiality, human and animal experimentation, genetic engineering, stem-cell research, cloning, and access to healthcare.