Page 17 - Part 1 Anesthesiology Common Risk Issues

SVMIC Anesthesiology: Common Risk Issues

Roles

As the head of any anesthesia care team, the anesthesiologist

is responsible for the management of the anesthesia team and
pre-anesthetic evaluation of the patent including, but not limited

to, the development of an anesthetic plan which incorporates
the patient’s current condition, co-existing diseases, and

postoperative care requirements. It is incumbent on the
anesthesiologist to document the anesthesia plan to ensure the

highest safety and quality of care for each patient.

Although non-physicians may contribute to the preoperative

collection and documentation of patient data, the
anesthesiologist has the duty to provide the preoperative

evaluation and care. Documenting the process is important
should a claim later be asserted.

The anesthesiologist must discuss the anesthesia plan with the

patient, the patient’s guardian, or conservator of the patient,
explain the risks and benefits of the plan, and obtain informed

consent. This will be covered in greater detail in the section
on Informed Consent to follow, but, generally, the discussion

should be documented in the record, and the patient should
acknowledge the discussion in a separate signed anesthesia-

specific informed consent document. If part of the anesthetic
care is to be performed by another anesthesia practitioner, this

should be explained to the patient during the pre-anesthesia
phase.

A complete pre-anesthetic evaluation that includes the
airway is essential to patient safety and must be documented.

Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) who receive
sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia for diagnostic or therapeutic

procedures are at a greater risk of an adverse outcome.

Page 17