Chapter 15:
Minor surgery can be performed in an outpatient setting with local anesthesia. This chapter will provide you with a review of the types of minor surgery commonly seen in practice, the instruments used in surgical procedures, and the specifics of how you will assist in such procedures. The most common surgical procedures performed in office settings are suturing, incision and drainage of abscesses, biopsies, and cyst removal.
Prior to any surgical procedure, patients must sign a consent form indicating that they have been informed of the benefits and risks of the procedure. This information about the procedure should come from the physician, and any questions should be answered by the physician. The medical assistant may then obtain a patient’s signed consent. As a medical assistant, you can give general information to the patient and answer general questions that the patient may have, but any concerns about the procedure itself or concerns about the outcome of the procedure should be referred to the physician and resolved prior to obtaining the signed consent. Patients coming into the office for minor surgery may be scared or apprehensive. You should make sure that the patient is prepared for the procedure and that it will be performed in a timely fashion. The patient cannot sign an informed consent while under the influence of any sedating medication. The medical assistant can offer support and comfort to the patient prior to the procedure but should not guarantee a specific outcome. Avoid phrases such as “Everything will be okay” or “This won’t hurt.”
The medical assistant will ensure the patient is appropriately gowned and draped for the procedure. Positioning of the patient must be convenient for the physician and comfortable for the patient. Ensure that the patient can maintain any required position throughout the procedure. The patient should mark the anatomical site where the procedure is to be performed and the medical assistant should confirm that the site corresponds with the surgical permit.