Operation Theatre Technician: Course, Eligibility, Job & Salary

Mar 2
20:43

2021

Hemant Virohan

Hemant Virohan

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

What is Operation Theatre technology? Operation Theatre Technician is a part of larger allied health services which deals with aiding the surgeons, nurses and anaesthesiologists while performing surgery. This area of paramedical sciences is primarily responsible for

mediaimage
  1. Preoperative preparation
  2. Assistance during surgery
  3. Post-operative theatre management

 Pre operative preparation involves proper arrangement of the operation theatre equipment,Operation Theatre Technician: Course, Eligibility, Job & Salary Articles getting and reviewing necessary affairs, obtaining documentation and permissions for the procedure, procuring procedure specific surgical tools and materials before the surgery, ensuring that everything required during the surgery is set up, properly functioning, well adjusted and securely connected so as to avoid problems and fuss during surgery.

Assisting the surgeon while performing the procedure includes positioning the patient for surgery, providing technical aid wherever required, monitoring and ensuring proper functioning of the operation theatre equipment during surgery.

Post-procedure, it is the duty of the operation theatre technologist to restock, maintain, rearrange instruments, supplies and equipment, getting the operation theatre ready, cleaned and sanitised for the next surgery.

 

What are Operation Theatre Technologists?

The Operation Theatre technicians/technologists are a group of professionals with specific skills specialized in Operation Theatre technology which is a part of allied health sciences and are known as paramedical healthcare personnel. Some of the other personnel in this collective category are radiography technicians, medical lab technicians, anaesthesia technicians and so on.

The Operation Theatre technicians/technologists work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, including surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses and play an important role in evaluating, monitoring and assessing operation theatre situations thus keeping the surgeons and others informed during the course of surgery.These professionals help get the affairs of the operation theatre in order by keeping equipment and machines ready, clean and hassle-free, and providing technical assistance during surgery and filing necessary documentation.

What is the scope of Operation Theatre Technologists?

The allied healthcare professionals are indispensable to the healthcare system and the demand for such professionals is ever increasing.

Today the advances in the field are dramatic and the demand is ever-increasing, thus there’s a need of a robust operation technology workforce that is well trained and could meet the requirements of the mushrooming healthcare industry. 

One can join this allied healthcare workforce and serve the community after completing programs of varying durations, one can do certificate program, COTT which is of 6-12 months duration, diploma and advanced diploma programs in Operation Theatre Technology (DOTT and ADOTT) of 1-2 years as well as Bachelors in Operation Theatre Technology (BOTT) a 3 years programs. Most of the paramedical courses including Certificate and diploma programs are offered here at Virohan institute of health and management sciences.

Virohan institute of healthcare and management contributes a fair share to the healthcare industry by producing scores of impeccably honed, well trained, ready for the job professionals every year.

What does an Operation Theatre Technician do?

On completing the degree or diploma in Operation Theatre technology, you as a certified technologist will have the skills to assist in surgical procedures, operate various highly intricate, modern equipment and procedures and manage the operation theatre on the whole.Procurement, restocking and arranging of all equipment, tools, materials necessary for the upcoming surgery.Checking all the essentials, documentation and permissions.Assisting other professionals during surgery.Getting the operation theatre well cleaned and thoroughly sanitized in addition to proper sterilization of the surgical equipment.In general, the Operation Theatre technologists assist and help maintain the operation theatre for multiple successive surgical procedures while ensuring, safety and cleanliness and also providing technical assistance to the surgeons and other healthcare professionals.

Job Opportunities for Operation Theatre Technician

With a degree in Operation Theatre sciences you can have quite a stellar career, one has numerous avenues to acquire a decent job and excel in this field, such 

  • Hospitals
  • International health services 
  • Government health services
  • Educational institutions
  • NGOs
  • Medical assistant in Nursing homes
  • Assistant in private hospitals
  • Sales and marketing
  • CSSD
Salary and perks:

The Trainee level Executives can directly join a laboratory or a hospital and earn somewhere between Rs.10,000 to Rs.20,000 per month.

However, a well experienced and skilled can obviously earn more, the government being the model employer offers salaries between Rs.30000 to Rs.40000 

Similar salary range is offered by the leading hospitals in the country where the technologists earn more than Rs.40000 

However, there is no cap on the salary, with increasing experience, one’s remuneration and benefits increase dramatically.

In addition to this, many employers offer healthcare benefits and other allowances to their employees.

So, if working in operation theatre you, if the skills and opportunities mentioned above have caught your intrigue, if you are considering becoming an Operation Theatre technologist the information below might be helpful.

How to become an Operation Theatre technologist?

To become an Operation Theatre technologist, you need to get admission in a college/university for Diploma or Advanced diploma in OPERATION THEATRE TECHNOLOGY (also known as DOTT/ ADOTT) or B.sc Operation Theatre Technology program (i.e. Bachelor of Operation Theatre technology or BOTT) 

  • DOTT is primarily a 1-2 year program with 6 months of internship 
  • BOTT is usually a 3 year program with the compulsory 6 (six) month to one-year internship 

The programs are taught as a combination of classroom lectures and laboratory practical sessions. This is to fully prepare you and equip you with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge you need in the line of work.

There are a few prerequisites/ eligibility criteria in the admission process which are almost common for degree and diploma courses

To take admission in DOTT or B.Sc. Operation Theatre Technology in India you must have passed Class 12 from a recognised board.

Usually in most institutes in India, for the students to be accepted for this course, they must have scored 50% or above in the 12th class board exams.

These programs are offered at various institutions across India

Course curriculum

The course curriculum is so devised that the students are entirely transformed into responsible professionals at the end of the course have enough prowess of the subject , sense of responsibility, be patient centred approach, have the ability to apply the principles of basic science and evidence-based practice and the ability to communicate effectively and understand and apply the core concepts of clinical ethics and law in everyday practice and be able to execute his daily duties with professionalism and best character.

The technologist must have an in-depth knowledge of the basic functioning and structures of the body, the knowledge of surgical procedures, the vast knowledge of various procedure specific techniques of anaesthesia and much more.

In order to achieve this, the basic subjects in the course curriculum are:

  • Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • Pathology
  • Microbiology
  • Medical ethics and communication for healthcare professionals
  • Hospital administration and training
  • Principles of anaesthesia
  • Pharmacology
  • Basics of computer
  • Principles of management
  • CSSD procedures

These are the core subjects that one has to study, more advanced and in-depth study of these subjects with focus on specific and individual aspects of the subject are to be studied in the following years of course.

It is imperative and natural that you choose the best paramedical institute for your study in paramedical courses, where you acquire all the skills, build and transform them into a career and to get the best learning opportunities to build a career in the healthcare industry.

Virohan institute of health and management sciences offers courses in most of the paramedical sciences, paramedical courses like Emergency Medical Technician, Operation Theatre Technician, Hospital Administration and Radiology Technician courses are offered.

These healthcare courses are taught to you in such a way that you get the hands on experience, practical knowledge and insight to deal with the patients in real life right after finishing the course.

Prior to your admission, you can go for career counselling at Virohan institute where through psychometric assessments and informed guidance advise you to take admission in a field of your interest and also guide you about the scope of that field. This expert counselling helps you understand what is best for you, enable you to decide for example, whether you should take admission in any of the one 1-year paramedical course or diploma courses in medical after 12th class and offer you a deep understanding of the scope of the best job oriented healthcare courses before you make a decision.

Also From This Author

Scope & Importance of Paramedical Courses in India

Scope & Importance of Paramedical Courses in India

Looking to build a progressive career in a short period and low budget? Paramedical courses present ample employment opportunities because of the expansion of the healthcare industry. Paramedical courses are job-oriented skilling programs that transform an individual learner into a competent healthcare worker. Paramedical courses give rise to allied healthcare professionals who deliver direct patient care, rehabilitation, treatment, diagnostics, and health improvement interventions to restore minimal optimal functions in an individual.
Paramedical Diploma Course after 12th

Paramedical Diploma Course after 12th

Have you recently passed 12th or has your ward completed higher secondary and you are looking for the best professional diploma course? Are you considering paramedical or health care sciences as an option? Well you have reached the right place, it is almost like this article was written just for you, here you will find all the information about what you seek. First of all, be assured you are choosing one of the best fields of work there is. If you are still unsure and deciding whether it is a good choice, read on and we will try address all the doubts and provide all the information needed to make things clearer and help you reach upon a decision.
Why MLT is the best career option after the 2020 pandemic

Why MLT is the best career option after the 2020 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has got the world au courant with medical lab technicians. The time has finally arrived for the public along with those in healthcare to truly understand the value of medical laboratory technicians (MLT) Have you ever wondered who conducts the detailed medical laboratory testing for your glucose levels, cholesterol levels, or RT-PCR and analyzes the results? These professionals have always been here, saving numerous lives, but in the background.