Medical Assistant; Mohs

Mohs Medical/Surgical Assistant

The Mohs Medical/Surgical Assistant is to provide assistance to the licensed-medical doctor in multiple settings including the clinic and outpatient surgical settings. They are to provide safe, knowledgeable, compassionate individualized care to all patients.

Serve as a patient advocate during patient exam, surgery and treatment

Interview surgery patients to obtain medical information

Measure patients' vital signs, weight and height

Show patients to examination rooms, procedure rooms or operative rooms, and prepare them for the physician

Review a surgical informed consent with the patient prior to their procedure

Record patients' medical history, medications, allergies, vital signs and test results in an Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Set up a sterile surgical tray

Inspect sterile items prior to opening

Open sterile surgical items in a sterile fashion

Lay supplies out on sterile field in an organized manner

Place surgical gloves on hands using sterile technique

Assist the physician during surgery while maintaining sterile field:
Blot with gauze when needed

Under surgeon direction, use skin hooks to gently retract skin while surgeon undermines or uses cautery device

Use forceps to hold suture line away from field or to help hold suture line tip in place to assist surgeon during knot placement

Use scissors to clip suture at various lengths depending on placement of knot (epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous fat, etc.)

Assist surgeon during cauterization

Know the difference between thermal cautery and electrocautery, and which one is preferable in various patient situations so the correct device can be prepared in a clean/sterile fashion

Properly numb a patient's skin using local anesthetics as directed by the physician

Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician following safety protocol of right dose, right patient, right route, right drug and noting expiration date

Collect blood, tissue or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing

Explain surgical/treatment procedures, medications, diets

Explain wound care instructions and physicians' instructions to patients

Explain and comfort patients with regards to expected healing times for various types of wounds and locations

Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments and materials or performing such tasks as giving injections and removing sutures

Accept triage style phone calls from patients and know which situations require the patient to be seen vs being able to counsel the patient over the phone

Know to ask the surgeon if there is ever any doubt

Under physician direction, authorize drug refills, enter prescription information into the EHR, and provide prescription information to pharmacies

Know how to clean surgical instruments, wrap them in sterile packs, and place them in an autoclave

Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms organized, neat, and clean

Assess the patient's condition throughout the exam, procedure or surgery according to the facility's policies and notify physician and/or RN of any indication of distress

Responsible for cleaning room and medical equipment in between each patient and at the end of the day

Correctly disposes of infection waste and biohazard materials

Schedule appointments for patients: including surgery appointments (Mohs surgery, excisions) and clinic appointments (wound checks, Mohs consultations, suture removals, etc.)

Have basic medical and surgical knowledge as it relates to Dermatology and Mohs surgery

Know what various blood thinners are

Know the basic difference between a pacemaker and defibrillator

Know the different types of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, other) and how they pertain to Mohs surgery vs excision

Know basic external anatomy of the head and neck

Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests, admission, or collaborative surgical care

Change dressings on wounds and can place a good pressure bandage after Mohs or excisions

Know how to place steri-strips and use mastisol

Know how to carefully use Hibiclens (chlorhexidine) as a surgical prep (and to avoid the eyes/ears at all costs)

Know when to use other preps, such as Ocusoft, alcohol, iodine, etc.

Inventory and assess the need for instruments, supplies and equipment while keeping the room fully stocked (daily)

Inventory and order medical supplies (monthly) and ensure all equipment is in proper working order

Perform accurate documentation of all procedures in a timely manner. Input information efficiently into the EHR (we currently use Modernizing Medicine - EMA)

Maintain adaptable and functional computer skills

Respond to emergency situations based upon nursing standards, policies, procedures, and protocol by having knowledge of equipment and supplies and is familiar with their location

Know how to operate an oxygen tank, oxygen mask and nasal cannula

Know how to recognize when a patient "vasovagals" and performs…