Administrative & Personnel Key Terms
Master these terms for the ANCADM domain. Terms are grouped by topic area.
Cost Containment and Supply Management
Cost containment
Deliberate practices to control and reduce unnecessary expenses in the OR, such as avoiding unnecessary opening of supplies.
Par level
The minimum quantity of a supply item that should be kept in stock before reordering is triggered.
Supply chain management
The coordinated process of ordering, receiving, storing, and distributing surgical supplies and equipment.
Preference card accuracy
Keeping surgeon preference cards updated to reflect actual current supply and instrument use, reducing waste from over-opening.
Case cart system
A supply distribution model where all items for a scheduled case are gathered on one cart in advance.
Electrical and Fire Safety
Electrical hazard
A risk of shock or burn from faulty equipment, frayed cords, or improper grounding.
Biomedical engineering inspection
Routine safety testing of electrical and powered equipment performed by biomedical/clinical engineering staff.
Fire triangle
The three elements (ignition source, fuel, oxidizer) required for a fire to occur, directly relevant to OR fire prevention.
Communication and Teamwork
Closed-loop communication
A communication technique where the receiver repeats back a message to confirm understanding before acting.
Chain of command
The organizational hierarchy for reporting concerns or escalating patient safety issues.
Interpersonal communication
Effective, professional communication among surgical team members supporting patient safety and workflow efficiency.
Conflict resolution
Structured approaches to addressing disagreements among team members professionally and constructively.
Mentoring and Personnel Development
Preceptor
An experienced staff member who trains and supervises a new employee or student during orientation.
Mentoring
An ongoing professional relationship supporting a less experienced colleague's growth and development.
Continuing education (CE)
Ongoing coursework required to maintain CST certification and stay current with evolving practice standards.
Competency validation
The process of confirming a staff member has demonstrated the skill and knowledge to safely perform a given task.
Scheduling and Workflow
OR scheduling
The process of assigning cases to specific rooms, times, and staff based on procedure needs and resource availability.
Block time
Reserved OR time allocated to a specific surgeon or service for scheduling their cases.
Turnover time
The interval between the end of one case and the start of the next in the same room.
Professional Development
NBSTSA
The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, the organization that administers the CST certification exam.
AST
The Association of Surgical Technologists, the profession's primary professional organization, publishing standards of practice and a code of ethics.
Scope of practice
The defined boundaries of tasks a surgical technologist is trained, competent, and authorized to perform.
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