title: First assisting in cataract surgery: program results.
abstract: 1. This program was established to teach non-physicians to first assist in cataract surgery, since third party payors would no longer pay for physicians to first assist. 2. Among the advantages to utilizing non-physician first assistants are: availability, reliability, familiarity with instruments and equipment, and quality of service. 3. The questionnaire results confirm that the advantages of having non-physician first assistants far outweigh the disadvantages.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Covell
mesh_terms: D002387:Cataract Extraction; D006801:Humans; D009872:Operating Room Technicians / Q000193:education*; D009881:Ophthalmic Assistants / Q000193:education*; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*