Surgeon's assistant
An assistant surgeon, assistant in surgery, physicians as assistants at surgery, surgeon assistant, first assistant or surgical assistant assists with a surgical operation under the direction of a surgeon.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
In the United Kingdom, a surgical care practitioner is not a qualified doctor, but may perform simple surgical operations under the supervision of one.[1]
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. 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, 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.[2][3][5][6] The U.S. Bureau of Labor defines surgical assistant 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][5][7]
References
- 1 2 Erin Dean (10 December 2012). The surgeons who are not doctors. BBC News. Accessed February 2017.
- 1 2 April 12, Revised; 2016. "Statements on Principles". American College of Surgeons. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-09-09. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ Haig, Scott (23 October 2009). "The Case of the Missing Assistant Surgeon". Time. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- 1 2 3 "ABSA - American Board of Surgical Assistants". Absa.net. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- 1 2 "ACS releases 2018 update to the Physicians as Assistants at Surgery report". The Bulletin. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- 1 2 "Texas Medical Board". Tmb.state.tx.us. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ↑ Office, U. S. Government Accountability (13 January 2004). "Medicare: Payment Changes Are Needed for Assistants-at-Surgery". Gao.gov (GAO-04-97). Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ↑ "2018 SOC Definitions" (PDF). Bls.gov. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ↑ "2018 Standard Occupational Classification System". Bls.gov. Retrieved 9 February 2019.