What responsibilities might a medical assistant have when assisting with minor surgery?
Course AccreditationThis course has been granted prior approval by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) for 2 clinical/general CEUs. Granting approval in no way constitutes endorsement by the AAMA of the course content or the course provider. Show
Author InformationBrian Dickens – MBA, PHD, NATIONALLY REGISTERED CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT (NRCMA) Address correspondence to: Disclosure statement: Dr. Brian Dickens reports having no financial or advisory relationship with any corporate, medical, or political organization doing work related to this educational activity or other business activity. Approval Number:140515 Intended AudienceThis minor surgeries and procedures training course is an overview of the functions of a medical facility and is generally taken by employees who have previously completed a minor surgeries and procedures role or related schooling. This course is intended to keep employees aware of the safe practices of a healthcare facility. It is developed for clinical supervisors, workers, and trainees who work within minor surgery functions of the allied health profession. Learning ObjectivesUpon completion of this course, you will be able to:
Course outline
Disclaimer:This is a summary of essential elements of the Medical Assistant and their role in Minor Surgeries and Procedures and is not a comprehensive guide for compliance. Regulation by those that perform minor Surgeries and procedures functions as a Medical Assistant are obligated to comply with all of its requirements of the employer and should not refer to this program as a guide of legal information or advice.Medical Assistants play an important role in the many various types of health care offices around the world. These esteemed professional play an important role in assisting the doctor to ensure timely, efficient, quality care for patients which gives the doctors more valuable time to spend with their patients. Our extensive medical assistant course at our medical school in Miami, Florida is specifically designed to educate our students to become qualified in their field. Among the many important responsibilities of a qualified Medical Assistant, four very important responsibilities are handling office management duties such as booking appointments and other reception needs, maintaining records management, performing specialized medical tests including urinalysis and collecting blood specimens, and preparing patients for physical examinations and minor surgical procedures. Reception and Maintaining Records ManagementOften the medical assistant is the first face a patient sees when entering the doctor’s office. A qualified medical assistant is not only adequately trained in intake procedures but also expresses compassion when dealing with patients. Upon processing the patient’s payment whether it be a cash paying patient or a payment with insurance, the medical assistant must correctly charge the account and take record of the payment. Additionally, they must ensure that the patient’s records are up to date with the correct address, phone number, and insurance information if applicable. They must maintain privacy laws by ensuring they securely protect the patient’s private information. Additionally, they must be able to answer the incoming phone calls from the office and handle the appointment booking. Performing Specialized Medical TestsUpon calling the patient to be seen by the doctor, medical assistants are responsible for taking the patient’s vitals and recording them such as their blood pressure, temperature, weight, pulse, and oxygen levels. Additionally, these practice staff members must perform urinalysis testing and draw blood work to be delivered to the laboratory. Patient PreparationPatient preparation is a large part of being an efficient medical assistant. When the patient enters for a physical examination, the knowledgeable medical assistant must know how to provide them with the appropriate materials provided by the office such as office gowns and adequately direct the patient in the preparation process. For example, if the patient is going in for an x-ray they may tell them to remove all metal jewelry and provide them with blankets to cover the extremity being examined. If the patient is going in for a minor surgery, the medical assistant may help the patient prepare by prepping the area with iodine and removing hair from the surrounding area if necessary, apply local anesthetic for
numbing the area and administering any I.V. antibiotics or sedatives. Additionally, the can administer the sedatives as a shot if an I.V. is not being used. The Doctors Best FriendA qualified medical assistant who performs all the duties in a timely fashion ensuring accuracy and maintaining a comfortable atmosphere for the patient relieves a lot of stress of the doctor. At FVI School of Nursing and Technology our medical assistant courses are designed to cover all facets of this career and produce graduates that are well qualified to perform their job duties. Our staff is readily available to answer all of your questions and help you see if this is the career for you. Our classes are flexible and our courses are offered in medical assistant programs in Miami. This highly respected field of work has good career growth opportunities in various medical health settings. To learn more about this exciting career, please give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you and helping you get started in the field of your dreams. More Information Here:
What are some of the responsibilities of a medical assistant?Taking medical histories.. Explaining treatment procedures to patients.. Preparing patients for examinations.. Assisting the physician during examinations.. Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens.. Performing basic laboratory tests.. Instructing patients about medication and special diets.. What are minor surgical procedures?Minor surgical procedures refer to surgery performed on superficial tissue, usually under local anaesthesia and using minimal equipment. These procedures can be performed safely and quickly with few or no complications, and while the patient is conscious throughout the procedure.
What are some procedures that a medical assistant may have to assist with?With specific protocols, orders and directions in place, MAs can handle a broad range of duties. (See the outline of MAs' scope of practice.) In some states, MAs can perform procedures such as urinalysis, strep tests, blood pressure checks, weight checks, electrocardiograms, venipuncture and injections.
What are the two most common solutions used in minor surgical procedures in the medical facility?Research indicates that chlorhexidine (Hibiscrub or Hibiclens) and povidone-iodine (Betadine) are safe and effective antiseptics. Even minor surgical procedures require the use of anesthetics, which either are injected locally at the site of the procedure or may be sprayed on the skin as a preinjection anesthetic.
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