Development and implementation of a perioperative assistant training program.

Abstract

Due to health care reform, many institutions have had to examine the way they deliver patient care. This article describes how, in response to this challenge, an interdisciplinary OR team at North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY, developed and implemented the role of perioperative assistant in the OR. The authors describe the education curriculum for program completion, along with specific results. The program's difficulties and challenges are described, as well as what was learned as the program proceeded. The authors stress that program implementation depended on the efforts of all staff members, their willingness to help develop the perioperative assistant role, and their ability to function as a team.