|
Q: What specialties do you cover?
| A: |
Bariatric Surgery
Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
General
Genitourinary
Neurosurgery
Obstetrics & Gynecological
Orthopedics
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Renal Transplant
Robotic Surgery
Vascular |
Q: What surgical assistants do you have available?
| A: |
CRNFA, RNFA, NP, PA-C and SA-C.
|
Q: Does having a surgical assistant add to the
cost of the surgery?
| A: |
Amid America's inevitable health care reform changes and insurance
cutbacks, the profession of surgical assisting is proud to share
its unique position in offering cost-effective, quality care
for the surgical patient. As a provider of first assisting,
the surgical assistant is often reimbursed by insurance companies
for services rendered at significantly lower cost to the consumer
and insurance industry while providing safe quality patient
care. |
Q: Who determines if there will be a SA?
| A: |
The primary surgeon. The nature of the procedure can also
dictate the need for a surgical assistant. Often the SA is someone
the primary surgeon has worked with on prior procedures that
has demonstrated a skill level that inspires confidence in their
abilities. |
Q: Who is responsible for paying the SA?
| A: |
MSA Billing Services will file a claim on your behalf with
your insurance company. On occasion, there are contracts signed
by the patient pertaining to the possibility of your insurance
company denying our claim, and therefore, you are responsible
for making payment arrangements with our organization. |
Q: What about monies applied to my co-insurance,
deductible and/or co-payments?
| A: |
Based on the healthcare policy, your insurance company may
apply monies to be paid by you. On most occasions, you will
be responsible for these fees. If this occurs, please contact
our office to work out a payment plan. |
Q: Are surgical assistants licensed?
| A: |
No. Currently the State of Georgia does not require Surgical
Assistants to be licensed, but MSA has joined in the fight to
standardize certifications and obtain licensure. Education,
testing, peer-review and continuing medical education are already
part of MSA’s mandate for our healthcare professionals. |
Q: Who certifies your assistants?
| A: |
Georgia State Board of Medical Examiners
Association of Operating Room Nurses
National Surgical Assistant Association
The American Board of Surgical Assistants
|
Q: What is a Surgical Assistant?
| A: |
The Surgical Assistant works in collaboration with the Surgeon
and other healthcare team members to achieve optimal outcomes
for the patient. The Surgical Assistant has attained, through
additional education and training, the necessary technical skills
and knowledge to function as the assistant to the Surgeon during
an operation. During surgery, the Surgical Assistant is under
the direct supervision of the surgeon and does not function
as a Scrub Nurse.
Surgical Assistants demonstrate a great deal of sophisticated
decision-making and problem-solving skills within the technically
oriented tasks they perform. This both safeguards a patient
in the operating room and facilitates the technical aspects
of operative intervention. These cognitive and analytical processes
require highly specialized knowledge and skills acquired through
education and experience. |
Q: Can a patient choose their own surgical assistants?
| A: |
It is possible; however, it is best to allow your Surgeon
to make that decision. He/she will select a Surgical Assistant
with the skills and abilities needed to perform the procedure
to obtain optimal patient outcomes. |
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