this is awesome! i am new to surgery coding and the thought of being a surgery tech seems to be such a natural bridge to making my surgery coding so much stronger.
I’ve gotten the opportunity to be in an o.r and observe a surgery. It was amazing!! The only thing I will tell you to be mindful of is the smell! There is the smell of burning flesh and the particular patient I was observing had an infection so there was a smell associated with that as well. The blood and seeing organs did not bother me at all, I was actually fascinated by it.
MaiyaMia1 good to know!! I think I’ll be fine with all of it because I’ve assisted in Brynn’s birth (and her 10 other litter mates) so I’ve been up close and personal with blood, placenta, afterbirth, etc and I had no problem whatsoever with that. But it might be different with humans so I’m also thinking what the psychological/emotional affect will be! Since you were in the OR, aside from the smells, what did you experience that you didn’t expect?!?!
Coding With Kate the surgeon was super carefree and talking and joking with us during the procedure. I didn’t expect that. I thought that only happened on greys anatomy. But I’d also hear them playing music in the operating rooms sometimes. Surgeons are funnier and more social than regular doctors in my experience.As far as emotions I felt bad for the patient prior to going into the room when I heard her story, but once I was inside the way she was laying and from where I was standing, I couldn’t see her face so I no longer thought of her as a person. It was the same emotion as watching it on tv. You’d be standing much closer to the patient but you still wouldn’t know them personally, so I guess it just depends how emotional you are. But then again the patient I saw was having a quick and easy procedure, it may be very different if it was something serious.
MaiyaMia1 very fascinating!!! Thank you for sharing that experience!! I’ll definitely reflect on how my mental/emotional state was during and after the shadowing!
I don't think it's crazy at all. They are kind of related in that you are still dealing with anatomy and phys, disease path, procedures, etc. Just in a different capacity. Obviously the healthcare field is for you!
No reason you cant do both :P , Imagine being a surg tecn doing a remote coder job or something, sounds awesome. and Being a surg tech is pretty awesome, but you gotta be able to deal with the pressure of being a surg tech and dealing with doctors and stress.
John Daniel agreed! The entire time in the OR I’d be thinking about what the PCS code would be! The stress level is another thing I’ve been thinking about so it will be interesting to see what the energy level is in the OR when I shadow!
Not necessarily but I do feel that my experience gives me a bit of a leg up on the anatomy and medical terminology aspect of it. I have a friend who is an lpn and transitioned into coding.
That sounds very exciting!
Super exciting! Can't wait to hear how it goes!
this is awesome! i am new to surgery coding and the thought of being a surgery tech seems to be such a natural bridge to making my surgery coding so much stronger.
A guy from our church used to have that position. He later went back into the army and is now retired but he loved the job.
I’ve gotten the opportunity to be in an o.r and observe a surgery. It was amazing!! The only thing I will tell you to be mindful of is the smell! There is the smell of burning flesh and the particular patient I was observing had an infection so there was a smell associated with that as well. The blood and seeing organs did not bother me at all, I was actually fascinated by it.
MaiyaMia1 good to know!! I think I’ll be fine with all of it because I’ve assisted in Brynn’s birth (and her 10 other litter mates) so I’ve been up close and personal with blood, placenta, afterbirth, etc and I had no problem whatsoever with that. But it might be different with humans so I’m also thinking what the psychological/emotional affect will be! Since you were in the OR, aside from the smells, what did you experience that you didn’t expect?!?!
Coding With Kate the surgeon was super carefree and talking and joking with us during the procedure. I didn’t expect that. I thought that only happened on greys anatomy. But I’d also hear them playing music in the operating rooms sometimes. Surgeons are funnier and more social than regular doctors in my experience.As far as emotions I felt bad for the patient prior to going into the room when I heard her story, but once I was inside the way she was laying and from where I was standing, I couldn’t see her face so I no longer thought of her as a person. It was the same emotion as watching it on tv.
You’d be standing much closer to the patient but you still wouldn’t know them personally, so I guess it just depends how emotional you are. But then again the patient I saw was having a quick and easy procedure, it may be very different if it was something serious.
MaiyaMia1 very fascinating!!! Thank you for sharing that experience!! I’ll definitely reflect on how my mental/emotional state was during and after the shadowing!
let me know how it goes for you.
I don't think it's crazy at all. They are kind of related in that you are still dealing with anatomy and phys, disease path, procedures, etc. Just in a different capacity. Obviously the healthcare field is for you!
No reason you cant do both :P , Imagine being a surg tecn doing a remote coder job or something, sounds awesome. and Being a surg tech is pretty awesome, but you gotta be able to deal with the pressure of being a surg tech and dealing with doctors and stress.
John Daniel agreed! The entire time in the OR I’d be thinking about what the PCS code would be! The stress level is another thing I’ve been thinking about so it will be interesting to see what the energy level is in the OR when I shadow!
I'm a surgical tech, trying to be a coder :)
Jillian W s that a common combination?!?!
Not necessarily but I do feel that my experience gives me a bit of a leg up on the anatomy and medical terminology aspect of it.
I have a friend who is an lpn and transitioned into coding.
I passed my CPC exam! :)
Jillian W congrats!!!!!!!!!!