Page 13 - CASA Bulletin of Anesthesiology 2019 Issue 1

本期专栏 Focus
Collaborative Relationship between Anesthesiologist and Surgeon in OR
张均奎 Jack Zhang, MD, PhD
The operating room (OR) environment is an exceptionally volatile and complex workplace. In such a high-stress environment, everyone needs to work collaboratively in order to deliver the high-quality care. Through both competence and the technical preparation,
the surgeon and anesthesiologist are the leaders who not only play separately critical roles in OR performance, but whose behaviors and interpersonal relationships also affect surgical outcomes.
I have invited three physicians to our CASA Bulletin: Dr. Zhou, a cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Tang, a cardiac anesthesiologist and a general anesthesiologist, Dr Huang. They will share their experiences and expectations in the OR and, hopefully, help readers understand and improve professional OR relationships.
The OR is the only area in the hospital where two physicians (anesthesiologist and surgeon) simultaneously share equal responsibility for one patient. Both parties may have different values, information, opinions, experience, personalities and interests. Additionally, sleep deprivation and productivity pressure for two parties may have synergistically negative effects on the already stressful and volatile OR environment. OR conflict can vary from a minor disagreement to a major personality clash-and even physical confrontations. Both parties’ engagement may set the tone in the OR. If this tone is calm and collected even when things go wrong, the OR staffs will feel more at ease and perform their work better. However, if both the surgeon and anesthesiologist are hostile or passive aggressive, then a mentally toxic work environment eventually settles in. Moreover, OR conflicts can lead to failure in delivering an effective patient care and even to medical errors. Malpractice claims may arise due to a lack of appropriate medical care and patient’s dissatisfaction, in turn generating negative publicity and even possible medical license and practice privilege suspensions.
How can OR conflicts be prevented and resolved?
First of all, a good channel of communication between anesthesiologist and surgeon is
the key in understanding their goals and needs. Both sides should avoid getting aggressive and upset if something is not communicated properly. If found in the midst of a conflict, both should remain calm and control their emotions to interpret a situation more objectively and
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Vol.6, No.1,2019