Final answer:
The medical assistant is responsible for confirming patient identification, ensuring team introductions, and verifying procedural details before surgery. During surgery, they participate in a 'time out' to orally confirm crucial aspects with the team. Post-surgery tasks include reviewing procedure details and specimens and completing equipment counts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medical assistant's role during a minor surgical procedure involves important tasks before, during, and after the operation. Before the procedure, the medical assistant must confirm the patient's identity, the surgical site, and the planned procedure while ensuring introductions are made among team members. They must also verify that prophylactic antibiotics have been administered within the correct time frame and that essential imaging is displayed.
During the procedure, it is crucial to undertake a 'time out' to orally confirm critical aspects, such as sterility, equipment availability, and expectation of critical events, ensuring that the surgical team is synchronized in their responsibilities. After the procedure, the assistant must review the procedure name, ensure needle, sponge, and instrument counts are complete, and confirm any specimens are correctly labeled.
Adherence to infection control practices, like proper handwashing and scrubbing for surgery, is vital. While medical laboratory assistants (MLA) primarily focus on processing samples and laboratory tasks, the role during a surgical procedure is hands-on and critical for patient safety and procedural success.