First Call Surgical Assistants

First Call Surgical Assistants is a corporation composed of certified surgical assistants possessing

an impeccable reputation paired with a high level of surgical skills. We contract with hospitals and

surgeons to provide quality and professional service to patient care in surgical procedures.

Our staff is qualified to assist surgeons in a variety of surgical procedures. With 20 years of

experience, our surgical assistants have the capability to provide a vast range of knowledge and

expertise in multiple specialties.

The American Medical Association defines the occupational description of a Surgical Assistant as defined

by the American College of Surgeons as providing aid in exposure, hemostasis, closure, and other

intraoperative technical functions that help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for

the patient. In addition to intraoperative duties, the surgical assistant also performs preoperative and

postoperative duties to better facilitate proper patient care. The surgical assistant to the surgeon during

the operation does so under the direction and supervision of that surgeon and in accordance with hospital

policy and appropriate laws and regulations.

All First Call Surgical Assistants are skilled in the following areas as noted by the American

Medical Association:

Review permit to confirm procedure and special needs

Determine specific equipment needed per procedure

Select and place of x-rays for reference

Assist in moving and positioning of patient

Insert and remove Foley urinary bladder catheter

Place pneumatic tourniquet

Confirm procedure with surgeon

Drape patient within surgeon’s guidelines

Provide retraction of tissue and organs for optimal visualization with regard

           to tissue type and appropriate retraction instrument and/or technique

Assist in maintaining hemostasis by direct pressure, use and application
of appropriate surgical instrument for the task, placement of ties, placement
of suture ligatures, application of chemical hemostatic agents, or other measures
as directed by the surgeon

Use electrocautery mono- and bi-polar

Clamp, ligate, and cut tissue per surgeon’s directive

Harvest saphenous vein, including skin incision, per surgeon’s directive

Dissect common femoral artery and bifurcate per surgeon’s directive

Maintain integrity of sterile field

Close all wound layers (facia, subcutaneous and skin) as per surgeon’s directive

Insert drainage tubes per surgeon’s directive

Select and apply wound dressings

Assist with resuscitation of patient during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening

          events in the operating room

Perform any other duties or procedures incident to the surgical procedure deemed

           necessary and as directed by the surgeon

Operating with a team approach to achieve optimal results for each patient

First Call Surgical Assistants are certified by the National Surgical Assistant Association, a recognized and

accredited credentialing agency.