Under the direction of the physician, assists in operations; may help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon's assistants, wound closure, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments. (Exempt from this requirement is the current STFA which possesses ten years Operating Room experience with five years First Assist experience assisting a surgeon and competencies are checked off by surgeon every two years.