Wiki Resident in Teaching Hospital

[conleyclan]

I was off last week and think I am putting too much into my question.

I work at a teaching facility. I have one of our docs as the primary surgeon. I then have another one of our docs as the 1st assist and one of our residents as the 2nd assist. I can bill for the 1st assist even though there is a resident involved in the case, correct?

Thanks for any input.

 

[Bready]

ONLY if your primary surgeon has a cross-the-board policy of NEVER allowing residents to act as a first assist. Many trauma surgeons have this policy even though in a teaching hospital. Your claim would have to state "no qualified resident available" If, however, your surgeon has used residents in the past as first assists, then you cannot bill.