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Curriculum

The Hospital Central Service Technician Program is offered by GateWay Community College in Phoenix, whose curriculum follows that required by the International Association of Healthcare Central Services Material Management (IAHCSMM).

The program prepares students for a career as members of the hospital central service team under the direct supervision of experienced nurses.

The instruction includes a basic introduction to the central service role, surgical supplies, basic and specialty surgical instruments, and packing and sterilization.

During the last phase of your certificate program, you can participate in three months of clinical rotations at Mayo Clinic Hospital.

During the last six weeks you may be placed at a Mayo Clinic setting to have supervised experience as you go through a planned hospital or clinic central service rotation.

The Central Service Department is responsible for decontamination, cleaning, processing, assembling, sterilizing, storing and distributing medical devices and supplies. This program fully prepares you for a career in health care services in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center.

  • General Surgery (Mayo Clinic Hospital)

    The specialty surgical teams provide care to patients requiring procedures involving the neck, breast, stomach, small bowel, liver, pancreas and spleen. In the general surgery area, gallbladder surgery, appendectomies and many bowel resections are performed using laparoscopic technology. Other laparoscopic procedures include inguinal hernia repair, cholecystectomy, splenectomy, adrenalectomy and lymph node biopsy prior to liver resection.

    Many specialty surgical instruments will be handled on this rotation.

  • Outpatient Surgery (Mayo Clinic)

    The outpatient clinic rotation includes processing instruments for ophthalmic surgeries with low-risk patients who do not require general anesthesia or hospitalization. For example, one procedure you will provide instruments and services for on this rotation is cataract surgery. You will also process instruments and equipment used in the various specialties at the clinic.

Grading or evaluation

As you move through the central service rotations, you will be evaluated in each main area by your preceptor and faculty from GateWay Community College. Performance is evaluated using a competency-based evaluation system and performance appraisals.

Mayo School of Health Sciences uses evaluative tools that include:

  • Demonstration of skills
  • Self-assessment exercises
  • Faculty reviews

Our system of evaluation provides students and faculty with a comprehensive look at individual performance.

Also see:

Curriculum enhancements

Mayo School of Health Sciences is committed to developing and maintaining the very best education programs. Changes may be made to the curriculum and other aspects of this program as necessary to assure the highest-quality training.

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