The Rock Valley College Assistant at Surgery Program is a comprehensive guide to learning to perform in the role of the Assistant at Surgery. This self paced, online course concentrates not only on the technical skills required of a First Assistant, but the organizational skills and mind set needed to assume the role of a First Assistant in surgery.

The technical skills are taught through a DVD and online video series which teaches surgical knot tying and suturing, patient positioning, equipment needed for various surgical procedures and its proper usage, advanced assisting techniques, and insight into the role of the First Assistant from practicing First Assistants and the surgeons who utilize their services.

The student will attend an intense and challenging Six-Day Technique Enhancement Seminar conducted by the highly skilled and experienced ESSFA First Assistant instructors who will teach the students the latest surgical techniques in multiple surgical specialties. Using state of the art surgical simulators provided by Surgical Training Aids Inc., and Delletec, the student will gain a broad knowledge base from which to build upon. Lectures from working First Assistants and surgeons will help the students gain a valuable insight into the role.

Clinical preceptorship includes 135 cases with 300 minimum hours to be held at the students home facility and overseen by the surgeon(s) of the students own choosing will allow the student to perfect the techniques taught in the course.

Organizational skills are taught through independent case studies that challenge the student to teach themselves the research skills required to better understand the role of the First Assistant and the procedures they will be assisting on. This will lead to improved patient care and optimal surgical outcomes as well as increasing the students' value as an expert member of the surgical team.

Other areas that are taught include medical legal aspects of the role of the First Assistant in surgery and some of the business skills the student will need in order to build a successful career in whatever capacity.

Whether the student intends to work for a physician, a facility, or as an independent, upon completion of this course he/she will have a better understanding of the business side of patient care. After the completion of predetermined sections of course material and course requirements, the student will be given a section examination. Upon the students passing of this section examination, the student will be issued a certificate of completion.

These sections are identified as Sections A, the suture and tying course, the Six day Technique Enhancement Course, Sections B, C, and D. Completion of Section D results in the student being issued a certificate of course completion. 

Prospective student must provide:

Copy of Certification or License
School Transcript (for certification eligibility – required prior to completion of this course)
Immunization records (current)
Professional Liability Insurance for the Surgical Assistant(hpso.com)
Current CPR/CBL’s
Documented Surgical Experience
Current criminal background check/drug testing

How to register

Visit: https://rockvalley.essfaedu.net/essfaedu/, select Enrollment Forms and complete all that apply to you.

Section A – Home Study

Manual/Chapter 1 Lumbar Laminectomy
Manual/Chapter 2 Coronary Artery Bypass
Manual/Chapter 3 Small Bowel Resection
Manual/Chapter 4 ORIF Ankle
Section A Final Examination
    * Certificate awarded at completion
Suture and Tying Test and Practice Log (15 clock hours) – Home Study
    * Certificate awarded at completion
Six-day Surgical Technique Enhancement Course (60 clock hours)
Final Skills Evaluation: Small Bowel Resection
Comprehensive Examination covering all topics covered in the 6 day course (minimum 77% to pass) (Student will be responsible for transportation and lodging when in attendance of this course.)
    * Certificate awarded at completion

Section B – Home Study

100 logged hours of clinical preceptorship (under the direction of one or more surgeons)
Chapter 5 Low Anterior Resection
Chapter 6 Total Knee Replacement
Chapter 7 Total Abdominal Hysterectomy
Chapter 8 Medical/ Legal Aspects Research Paper
Independent Case Study
Section B Final Examination
    * Certificate awarded at completion

Section C – Home Study

100 logged hours of clinical preceptorship (under the direction of one or more surgeons)
Chapter 9 Carotid Endarterectomy
Chapter 10 Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Chapter 11 Anterior Cervical Fusion w/ Instrumentation
Chapter 12 TRAM flap for Breast Reconstruction
Section C Final Examination
    * Certificate awarded at completion

Section D – Home Study

100 logged hours of clinical preceptorship (under the direction of one or more surgeons)
Capstone Course – Self Directed Case Study
Clinical Preceptorship Completed (300 clock hours and 135 Case minimum)
Surgeon Clinical Sponsor Evaluation Completed (Student must be evaluated as competent by Surgeon)
    * Certificate awarded at completion for Course Completion

The purpose of this educational program is to help fill the need for Assistant at Surgery education in the state of Illinois and around the country.

Busy clinics and surgery schedules make it difficult for surgeons to assist their partners in surgery. These factors send many surgeons looking for qualified/credentialed individuals who can help them on all of their cases, and learn their likes and dislikes.

Governor Blagojevich 2005 signed legislation making Illinois the first state to have a Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Act (Senate Bill 354).

Surgical First Assisting is poised to become one of the fastest growing medical positions. With the ever rising cost of healthcare in our country, mid level professionals such as the Surgical First Assistants are going to find themselves in demand!

Student completion times will vary. The Rock Valley College Assistant at Surgery Program is a self paced online program, designed specifically for the working professional.

The average student completes the course in 12 – 18 months. Students can complete the course in as little as 7 months. It is recommended to students that they complete the course in 24 months or less.

https://rockvalley.essfaedu.net/essfaedu/

Students completing the Assistant at Surgery Program qualify to sit for the national certification examination. Upon passing national certification, candidates may then apply for licensure/registration with State of Illinois at:

Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Division of Professional Regulation

The Assistant at Surgery curriculum, developed by The Elite School of Surgical First Assisting's (ESSFA), accrediting body is The American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA), www.absa.net. With completion of this course, students will sit for the national exam to be credentialed as a Surgical Assistant - Certified (SA-C)
 
All Surgical Technologist's must become Certified by the (NBSTSA) National Board of Surgical Technology & Surgical Asisting prior to course completion.
 
It is also approved by The Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) www.cc-institute.org for the Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA). You must be CNOR certified prior to course completetion. Information about additional accrediting bodies for Surgical Assisting, NSAA (CSA) and NBSTSA (CFA) will be provided in the near future.
 
The Illinois Surgical Assistant Association (ISAA) www.ilsaa.net for membership application and information