Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Why it’s important to remove the sutures you place

Jay Talsania, MD
Conditions
March 31, 2019
Share
Tweet
Share

As a surgeon who has been practicing for more than 20 years, I have had a front row seat to both positive and negative changes that have taken place in our evolving medical field. As a community hand surgeon who values many of the recent advances in hand surgery, there is one piece of tried-and-true advice that I still find helpful in my practice to this day: Remove your own sutures.

Removing sutures is a critical touchpoint with your patient who has just allowed you the privilege of operating on them. This is a valuable opportunity to observe the effects of your recent surgical procedure and, most importantly, to connect with your patient. The encounter lets patients know that you are concerned about their outcome. Imagine telling someone that you are not going to see them after surgery for 91 days (just outside global), or, perhaps, never after a procedure.

Many patients eagerly await their first post-operative visit as they do not remember the details from the discussion in the recovery room. Often, second-opinion patients present with complaints that they rarely saw their first surgeon. Some complain that they were booked for surgery by a mid-level provider, then after surgery all subsequent visits were with a same or different mid-level provider.

Face-to-face communication with your patient is vital. Removing your own sutures is an excellent opportunity to ensure your patient is getting the care and attention they deserve.

I realize that a surgeon does not collect RVUs or extra dollars for office visits during the global period. Some may even view it as a “waste of valuable time” since someone else can do it while you’re evaluating a new patient. I think of this time as a chance to talk with my patient while providing excellent patient care, avoiding post-operative complications (most commonly swelling and stiffness), and reiterating recovery instructions and expectations. This visit fosters communication between the patient and surgeon team and sets expectations that guide the treatment pathway.

In the long run, I believe it is an oversight to not make time for this important visit. To see your patients, touch them, and speak with them helps them to experience your compassion, and encourages them to spread the word about their experience, which will help to build your practice. Removing your own sutures is in essence “marketing.” Patients want the physical touch and are eager to spend time with their surgeon, especially in the new world of EMR.

Jay Talsania is an orthopedic surgeon. This article originally appeared in ASSH Perspectives.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

What caring for 6 generations can teach new doctors

March 30, 2019 Kevin 0
…
Next

Do not take medical tests as gospel

March 31, 2019 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Orthopedics

Post navigation

< Previous Post
What caring for 6 generations can teach new doctors
Next Post >
Do not take medical tests as gospel

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

  • Remove your blindfold to your patient’s pain

    Christina Abi Faraj
  • Qualifying conditions for medical marijuana

    Patricia Frye
  • Settlements in the opioid cases need these non-negotiable conditions

    Rosanne Aulino, RN
  • What does Kelly Loeffler’s health plan do to coverage for preexisting conditions?

    Robert Laszewski
  • How COVID is exposing poor working conditions in the U.S.

    Irene Martinez, MD
  • School vaccine exemptions must be for medical conditions only

    Shetal Shah, MD

More in Conditions

  • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

    Maire Daugharty, MD
  • Why medicine must stop worshipping burnout and start valuing humanity

    Sarah White, APRN
  • Why perinatal mental health is the top cause of maternal death in the U.S.

    Sheila Noon
  • A world without vaccines: What history teaches us about public health

    Drew Remignanti, MD, MPH
  • Unraveling the mystery behind one of the most dangerous pregnancy complications: preeclampsia

    Thomas McElrath, MD, PhD and Kara Rood, MD
  • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

    Noah Weinberg
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

      Rajeev Dutta | Education
    • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • Why compassion—not credentials—defines great doctors

      Dr. Saad S. Alshohaib | Physician
    • Addressing U.S. vaccine inequities in vulnerable communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

      Rajeev Dutta | Education
    • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • Why compassion—not credentials—defines great doctors

      Dr. Saad S. Alshohaib | Physician
    • Addressing U.S. vaccine inequities in vulnerable communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...