NYSACSP Making a Difference Every Day
The Power of TEAM
& the Transformation of a Dream
“New” Central Service Certification Training Program at LaGuardia Community College
This past June, a dream became reality with the launch of the first-ever Central Service Technician certificate program in the New York region at LaGuardia Community College. This program trains individuals in how to properly sterilize hospital equipment used for surgery.
The initiative started out as an attempt to elevate the Central Service Technician course in the New York area, to that of college level with the objective of achieving a mandatory certification requirement for the profession in the State of New York. In fall 2008 Mary Olivera, Director of Operations & Clinical Support for Case Medical, Inc. and Dan Bialt, Director of Central Service at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, reached out to the Division of Adult and Continuing Education at LaGuardia Community College. To meet the needs of Central Service staff and those new to the field, LaGuardia began planning the Enhanced Central Service Technician (CST) Program, based on requirements of The International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) CST Certification Exam.
“The Enhanced CST Program provides 180 hours of vocational training, certification exam preparation, contextualized instruction and adult basic education, utilizing a co-teaching model that involves a basic skills educator and a vocational skills instructor jointly delivering a content-based curriculum,” said Dr. Maryam (Sara) Esfarayeni, Associate Director of Allied Health Initiatives in LaGuardia’s Division of Adult and Continuing Education and Enhanced CST Program coordinator. “This course is designed especially for non-traditional, adult learners who have been out of school for many years and face educational disadvantages that can impede completion of a rigorous professional course of study and passing of the national CST Certification Exam.”
As an IAHCSMM instructor & Director of Central Service at Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn. I took on the role of teaching the Enhanced CST course at LaGuardia as the vocational instructor, along with Elizabeth de La Garza Vargas, the basic skills instructor. With support from the AARP Foundation, which provided eligible students funding to attend this specific vocational training, prospective students were screened and evaluated, and twelve qualified to register.
Within this group of students are those with previous Central Service experience and those who are new to the profession. In addition to course work, the class visited Elmhurst Hospital in Queens at the invitation of Larry Guittard, Director of Central Service there. Mr. Guittard took the students through the entire sterile processing system, from Decontamination to Sterile Storage. The students expressed great satisfaction with the on-site experience.
The Enhanced CST course, which is approaching the final phase, is targeted to end in mid September. The students are doing extremely well and are highly motivated to succeed. As an instructor for over 10 years, I must say that this has been an exciting and rewarding experience for me, both professionally and personally. The success of this initiative would not have been possible, had it not been for the dedicated team mentioned above working together towards a common goal: to elevate our profession and to help our students. I hope to share more with everyone in the future months. Truly, “Together Everyone Achieves More.”
If anyone is interested in learning more about the LaGuardia College Central Service Certificate Program, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Maryam (Sara) Mesfarayeni at (718) 482-5031 or e-mail: mesfarayeni@lagcc.cuny.edu
Congratulations to another graduating class of central service professionals!
Steve Maley,
President, NYSACSP