Surgeon's assistant explained

An assistant surgeon, also known as a surgical assistant, surgeon's assistant, assistant in surgery or first assistant, is a healthcare professional who provides direct manual and/or instrumental assistance to meet the in-procedure demands of a surgeon during a surgical operation.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Most surgical assistants are trainee surgeons or junior doctors, but In the United Kingdom, a surgical care practitioner, who is not a qualified doctor, may perform simple surgical operations under the supervision of one.

In the United States, the American College of Surgeons supports the concept that, ideally, the first assistant at the operating table should be a qualified surgeon or a resident in an approved surgical training program.[8] Residents who have appropriate levels of training should be provided with opportunities to assist and participate in operations. If such assistants are unavailable, other physicians who are experienced in assisting may participate or a qualified practitioner licensed in the role of surgical assistant. The American College of Surgeons maintains that a physician who assists with an operation should be trained to participate in and actively assist the surgeon in safely completing the operation. When a surgeon is unavailable to serve as an assistant, a qualified surgical resident or other qualified health care professional, such as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant with experience in assisting, may participate in operations, according to the ACS Statements on Principles.[1] A qualified practitioner is defined as any licensed practitioner with sufficient training to conduct a delegated portion of a procedure without the need for more experienced supervision, according to the ACS Statements on Principles.[1] [2] [4] [5] The U.S. Bureau of Labor defines surgical assistants as individuals that assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. They may, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant surgical devices or drains, suction the surgical site, place catheters, clamp or cauterize vessels or tissue, and apply dressings.[9] [10] [4] [6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Statements on Principles. April 12, 2016. American College of Surgeons. 9 February 2019. 29 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181229174515/https://www.facs.org/about-acs/statements/stonprin#anchor129977. live.
  2. Web site: Physicians as Assistants at Surgery: 2018 Update . https://web.archive.org/web/20180909084022/https://www.facs.org/~/media/files/advocacy/pubs/2018_pas.ashx . 2018-09-09 . dead . 2019-04-09.
  3. News: The Case of the Missing Assistant Surgeon. Scott. Haig. 23 October 2009. Time. 9 February 2019. 11 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180311215001/http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931481,00.html. live.
  4. Web site: ABSA - American Board of Surgical Assistants. Absa.net. 9 February 2019. 18 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190118154905/https://www.absa.net/. live.
  5. Web site: ACS releases 2018 update to the Physicians as Assistants at Surgery report. 1 April 2018. The Bulletin. 9 February 2019. 26 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826202745/http://bulletin.facs.org/2018/04/acs-releases-2018-update-to-the-physicians-as-assistants-at-surgery-report/. live.
  6. Web site: Texas Medical Board. Tmb.state.tx.us. 9 February 2019. 3 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190303213825/http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/surgical-assistant-licensure-getting-started. live.
  7. Web site: Medicare: Payment Changes Are Needed for Assistants-at-Surgery. U.S. Government Accountability Office. 13 January 2004. GAO-04-97. 9 February 2019. 2 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180702064406/https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-04-97. live.
  8. Web site: April 12, 2016. Statements on Principles. 2022-02-22. American College of Surgeons. en. 2022-02-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20220221172900/https://www.facs.org/about-acs/statements/stonprin. live.
  9. Web site: 2018 SOC Definitions . Bls.gov . 9 February 2019 . 7 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171207095754/https://www.bls.gov/soc/2018/soc_2018_definitions.pdf . live .
  10. Web site: 2018 Standard Occupational Classification System. Bls.gov. 9 February 2019. 26 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190226003233/https://www.bls.gov/soc/2018/major_groups.htm. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Surgeon's assistant".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.