Medical Assistants have an important role in the healthcare setting. MA’s do numerous things take patients vitals. They assist the physician in different procedures, and even help with the front office. Even help patients feel more relaxed in the medical office.
With one thing they do is sutural removal. Suture removal is another way of saying removing stiches. There are two different types of sutures. One is absorbable sutures, these don’t need to be removed they dissolve. The other one is nonabsorbable, need to be removed between 7 to 14 days, will be removed by the medical assistant during an office visit. Your physician may use stiches for different reasons. First would be if you have deep cuts and lacerations, that need to be closed. Second, surgeons also use stiches when they need to close incisions made during different procedures.
Every part of the body has different time frame that sutures are to be removed. Your face is 3 or 5 days, upper body would be 7 to about 10 days, legs and arms are about 10 to 14 days. This all depends on where the sutures are on the body. When it is time for your sutural removal, the medical assistant will need to examine your sutures. Some sutures may have some complications, like they can be infected, split open and even have drainage from the wound. If an incident of this occurs, you must notify the physician immediately.
To begin the process of removing the stitches, one must wash their hands and gather all necessary materials. Next you will need to remove all the materials from their specific packages. After this you will then make sure to have everying in a good sterile manner to avoid possible contaminations. You then will need a small bowl for antiseptic solution, cover the tray with a sterile towel to protect this until you are back in your room. Once you have escorted the patient to their room, explain the procedure and wash your hands. Put on the exam gloves. Gently remove the tape by lifting toward the middle to avoid hurting the patient’s wounds.
Make sure to inspect the wound to make sure there is no infections, once this is finished save the old bandages for your doctor to look over. After looking over the wound, clean it with gauze pads with the antiseptic wash you put in your bowl. Next, using your forceps grasp the suture, and lift the knot away from the patient’s skin to help make room for the suture scissors. After this, slide your suture scissors under the suture and cute where this enters the skin. Once you have cut the first knot, place this on the towel and make sure to inspect the site to ensure the suture came out completely.
Repeat the whole process until all the sutures are removed. Count them to make you have the right amount shown on the patient’s chart. You will then clean the wound with antiseptic and allow to air dry. Dress the wound and you will observe the patient to make sure they aren’t in any pain. This technique can also be used to remove staples if the patient has them.
After you have helped the patient with instructions on wound care, escort them to the checkout area. Then sanitize the instruments and room for the next patient. Prepare the disinfectant to sterilize the room.
Remove your gloves and wash your hand, and get ready for the next patients
