Self-test: Is the course "Fachfrau Operationstechnik HF / Fachmann Operationstechnik HF" the right course for me? (formerly TOA)

What does the day-to-day work of a specialist in surgical technology HF look like?

Specialists in surgical technology work in the operating departments of public or private hospitals, in surgical outpatient clinics, in doctors' surgeries, in central sterilization and at medical technology companies.
You are responsible for the planning, organization and logistics of the operating theatre - both for planned and emergency operations. They prepare the operating room, i.e. the necessary instruments, materials, apparatus and equipment, coordinate the teams from different specialist disciplines (e.g. anesthesia, nursing or medical technology) and take care of patient care. They are also responsible for safety and hygiene measures and monitor compliance with them. During the operation, they provide the surgeon with instruments so that he/she can keep a constant eye on the surgical field. Specialists in surgical technology ensure that everything runs smoothly in the operating theater and that everyone involved works together in a coordinated manner. They therefore make a significant contribution to a successful operation and thus to the patient's recovery.

The work of surgical technology specialists (formerly TOA) covers three phases: before, during and after the operation.

1. Before the operationspecialists clean their hands thoroughly and put on sterile clothing. They then prepare the equipment, instruments and materials required for the procedure, such as compresses and drapes. They check that all equipment and instruments as well as the infrastructure (e.g. lighting) are working properly. They also look after patients who are not yet anaesthetized, greet and inform them and enquire about their well-being and needs. Finally, they assist the surgeons in putting on sterile clothing and gloves.
2. During the surgeryassist the surgeon, i.e. they hand him the instruments and other required materials or remove them on order. In doing so, they ensure that the instruments are working properly. If this is not the case, they replace them without interfering with the operation.
3. After the operationsurgical technicians ensure that the patient is transported safely from the operating table back to their bed. They are also jointly responsible for preparing the operating room for the next operation. To do this, they check the instruments for any damage, dispose of them or pass them on for cleaning and sterilization and store them properly. They also check the stocks of medicines and materials and reorder them if there are insufficient quantities.

Finally, surgical technology specialists supervise apprentices and accompany them during their training.

Target group, personal characteristics and skills: For whom is the HF training course to become a qualified specialist in surgical technology HF suitable?

Are you fascinated by the world of surgery? Do you feel comfortable working with (sick) people and can you find your way around an interdisciplinary team with clear hierarchical levels? Do you really thrive in hectic situations, for example during an emergency operation or sudden complications during surgery? Can you deal with difficult situations, for example in the event of a death? Do you also enjoy organizational, planning and coordination tasks?
Then you probably belong to the target group of this course in surgical technology HF.

The surgical technology training to become a specialist in surgical technology HF is aimed at professionals (preferably from the medical field) who are interested in a sound and practice-oriented training at a higher technical college, whose degree (HF diploma) provides a good basis for later career steps.

(Prospective) surgical technology specialists should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Physical and mental resilience
• Manual dexterity
• Technical understanding
• High ability to concentrate
• Meticulous and careful way of working
• Flexibility
• Empathy
• Sense of responsibility
• Reliability
• Ability to work in a team
• Social competence
• Good communication skills
• Independence
• Strong sense of order and hygiene/cleanliness
• Willingness to work irregular hours and at night

Specialist in surgical technology HF (formerly TOA): What are the requirements for admission to this further training at a university of applied sciences?

Admission to surgical technology training/further training at a HF is generally* subject to the following requirements:

• Completed 3-year basic vocational training (EFZ), an apprenticeship in the medical field is an advantage.

Or

• Technical secondary school certificate, vocational baccalaureate, high school diploma or equivalent qualification

And

• Passed aptitude test. The schools decide for themselves exactly what this looks like and how it is carried out, so there may be differences. In most cases, a personal dossier with CV and letter of motivation must be submitted in advance, followed by a personal interview and an aptitude test of professional and personal skills as well as an aptitude internship lasting several days.
• Relevant professional experience

In addition:

• Very good written and oral German language skills (at least level C1 according to the European Language Reference Framework)
• Basic knowledge of English (written and oral, at least level A2 according to the European Language Reference Framework)

Note: Depending on the case, it is possible to have educational achievements credited. For example, nursing specialists HF benefit from a shortened training period. The schools are responsible for the recognition of competences already acquired in a recognized healthcare profession at tertiary level. Please contact the school of your choice directly for more detailed information.

* The universities of applied sciences (HF) decide independently on the admission procedure. There may therefore be differences between the providers. The admission procedure is set out and regulated in the study regulations of the respective HF. It must comply with the relevant legal requirements. More information on this can be found in the answers.

Subject matter and content of the training

In the surgical technology training / further training at a higher technical college to become a specialist in surgical technology HF (formerly TOA), you will acquire specialist and practical knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• General and special surgery
• Infectiology
• Hygiene, asepsis and antisepsis
• Operation preparation
• Instrumentology
• Device technology
• Movement sequences during surgery (instrumentation and assisting)
• Care and support of patients in the operating theater
• Organization
• Logistics
• Cooperation
• Communication
• Quality management

The theoretical learning content alternates with practical assignments in various specialist areas, such as visceral surgery, traumatology, gynecology, urology, orthopedics, vascular surgery and special surgery (e.g. neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, plastic surgery, pediatric surgery).

Note: The course content listed here is only a selection. This is because, although the universities of applied sciences follow the corresponding framework curriculum* when designing their surgical technology HF courses, they have a certain amount of leeway when designing the further training. Which learning content is ultimately covered and how it is structured and deepened can therefore vary from HF to HF.

* This is the framework curriculum for surgical technology. It is backed by a sponsoring body that is responsible for creating the framework curriculum and periodically (every seven years) reviews it to ensure that it is up to date and of high quality. The sponsoring body is represented by the National Umbrella Organization of the Healthcare Sector (OdASanté) and the Swiss Association of Health Education Centers (BGS) was formed.

Costs and financing of further training

The following costs are incurred for the 3-year training course to become a specialist in surgical technology HF (formerly TOA):

• Tuition feesThe semester fee depends on the school and your place of residence/canton. Students residing in the canton where they are studying should expect to pay an average of around CHF 750 per semester*.
• Registration and admission feeapprox. CHF 150
• Other extra costsPay attention to what additional costs you can expect for the HF surgical technology course. At some schools, for example, the costs for books, teaching materials, external study days and/or the diploma thesis are not included in the tuition fees.
• Wages for studentsPractical work during the apprenticeship is remunerated. The rate of pay is regulated by the canton and the company. The provider of your choice will be happy to provide you with detailed information.

* Courses at universities of applied sciences are financially supported (subsidized) by the cantons. Students from outside the canton pay higher tuition fees. The following requirements apply in order to receive cantonal subsidies:

• at least two years of residence in the canton
• The course is listed on the EDK (Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education) list of eligible courses (you will find the link to the list in the answer texts).

The cantonal subsidies are usually regulated by the school; these subsidies are usually already included in the tuition fees stated by the schools.

Duration of study, number of learning hours, forms of learning, teaching times, teaching format and learning effort

• Duration of studyThe surgical technology training/continuing education at a higher technical college to become a certified specialist in surgical technology HF (formerly TOA) takes three years and is usually offered as a full-time course.
  Note: The training period is shorter for holders of a HF diploma as a HF nursing specialist. This is because they can have 1800 learning hours credited.
• Number of learning hoursThe course comprises 5400 learning hours. Of these, 2200 learning hours are used for the learning area "School" and 3100 learning hours for the learning area "Practice".
• Forms of learningThe learning hours are divided into the following academic and practical educational components:
  • School as a place of learningThe relevant theoretical knowledge (theories, concepts and models) is taught here and tested by means of learning assessments.
  • Practice as a place of learning: Here, the bridge from theory to practice is built by means of internships. This gives students the opportunity to apply and deepen their knowledge and skills in practice. To this end, students complete internships in three different specialist areas: 1) visceral surgery, vascular surgery, gynecology and urology, 2) traumatology, orthopedics and 3) special surgery.
  • Training and transfer (TT)In this educational component, students are given the opportunity to train in specifically designed learning environments and/or practice facilities.
• Lesson timesAs this surgical technology HF course is a full-time course, lessons generally take place every day. When exactly the individual theoretical and practical sequences are held at school and in the company depends on the school and the hospital, among other things. These can create their own timetables.
• Teaching formatThe school lessons usually take place in face-to-face classes.
• Learning effort: You should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons as well as for self-study - how much depends on your previous knowledge, working style, learning speed and chosen training model.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster placements". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into lessons and the learning atmosphere. Important aspects on the way to successful graduation. Take the opportunity and contact the school of your choice directly.

Degree, diploma and title

During your training/further training to become a specialist in surgical technology HF, it is common for you to complete various qualifications. The higher technical colleges regulate what these so-called doctoral steps look like independently in the so-called doctoral regulations. For example, they can take the form of examinations (semester or intermediate examinations) or independent work (semester or project work and presentations). The grades for these qualification achievements are then incorporated directly into the final grades.

If you have fulfilled all the admission requirements specified in the doctoral regulations of the respective HF for the HF surgical technology course, you will be admitted to the final qualification procedure. This consists of three parts:

1. Onepractice-oriented diploma thesisor a practice-oriented project work: In this part of the examination, students demonstrate that they are able to deal in depth with the field of work and the skills required there. The thesis is usually written in the final year of study.
2. OneInternship qualification: In the last two months of the final internship, a final assessment is carried out by the internship company.
3. OneExamination interviewIn this part of the examination, students' theoretical and case-related knowledge and reasoning skills are tested. The examination interview lasts 30 minutes and takes place in cooperation between the school and the internship company.

All parts of the examination must be passed in order to be awarded the federal HF diploma.
The details of the implementation of the final qualification procedure are regulated by the respective HF in its doctoral degree regulations.

Diploma and title

Graduates of surgical technology training at a university of applied sciences receive an HF diploma and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected professional title "dipl. Fachfrau Operationstechnik HF / dipl. Fachmann Operationstechnik HF".

• In French: "Technicienne en salle d'opération diplômée ES / Technicien en salle d'opération diplômé ES"
• In Italian: "Tecnica di sala operatoria dipl. SSS / Tecnico di sala operatoria dipl. SSS"
• In English: "Registered Operation Room Technician, Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education". This is merely a recommended translation and not a protected title.