Anesthesiologists Are Physicians That Work Alongside Surgeons and Other Specialists to Ensure Patient Safety and Proper Functioning of Vital Organs Like the Brain, Heart, Lungs, and Kidneys During Operations. As Airway Experts That Manage Administration of Critical Medications Through the Entire Spectrum of Sedation to General Anesthesia, Anesthesiologists Perform Procedures to Support You and Vigilantly Monitor Your Breathing, Heart Rhythm, and Blood Circulation to Intervene and Rescue When Challenges Arise in Surgery. They Provide Pain Management Including Options for Regional Anesthesia Like Spinals, Epidurals, and Peripheral Nerve Blocks. They Are Involved Before, During, and After Procedures to Minimize Risk, Optimize Your Health, and Respond Immediately to Complications and Emergencies.
What Is the Education and Training for Anesthesiologists?
Anesthesiology Is a Competitive Medical Specialty That Requires a Bachelor’s Degree, Challenging Pre-Medical Courses, and Taking a National Exam (the MCAT) to Get Into Medical School. There Are Four Years of Medical School With Three Standardized National Exams (USMLE Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3) to Become a Physician and Earn Your Doctorate Degree in Medicine (MD or DO). There Is a Competitive Process Between All Medical Students to Match Into the Limited Anesthesiology Residency Spots in the Country. After Graduating From Medical School, There Are at Least Four Years of Rigorous Anesthesiology Residency Training Where Every Single Case, Day or Night, Is Supervised. There Are Three More Challenging National Exams (BASIC, ADVANCED, and APPLIED) to Pass Before Becoming a Board-Certified Anesthesiologist. There Are Additional Requirements for Maintenance of Certification Every 5 to 10 Years to Stay Up to Date on the Latest Research and Evidence-Based Practice. Anesthesiologists Need to Be Licensed by State Medical Boards and Credentialed in Some Facilities to Practice Medicine. Some Anesthesiologists Pursue Additional Fellowships for Pediatrics, OB, Heart Surgery, Acute or Chronic Pain, Critical Care Medicine, or Skillsets Like Taking Pictures of Your Heart Through Your Esophagus (Transesophageal Echocardiogram, TEE), Which Can Have Additional Certifying Exams.
Who Do Anesthesiologists Work With?
Other Physicians That Anesthesiologists Work With Include Surgeons, Obstetricians, Cardiologists, Gastroenterologists, Radiologists, and Any Other Specialty That Performs Procedures on Patients That Require Anesthesia. Anesthesiologists Take Care of Patients From All Walks of Life With an Array of Acute and Complex Chronic Medical Conditions. They Work in Various Health Care Settings Including Inpatient and Outpatient Operating Rooms, Labor & Delivery, Medical Offices, and Advanced Interventional Procedural Suites. They Collaborate With Teams of Doctors, Nurses, and Other Health Professionals to Take the Best Possible Care of Patients.
While Some Anesthesiologists Work Individually Performing Their Own Anesthetics, Other Anesthesiologists Work in an Anesthesia Care Team Medically Directing or Supervising Anesthetics With Other Physician and Non-Physician Anesthesia Practitioners.
What is the Anesthesia Care Team?
The Anesthesia Care Team May Include Physicians and Non-Physicians Led by a Physician Anesthesiologist Who Directs or Supervises Pre-Operative, Intra-Operative, and Post-Operative Care. Please See https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/anesthesia-101/anesthesia-care-team/ And Excerpts From the Statement on the Anesthesia Care Team (https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-practice-parameters/statement-on-the-anesthesia-care-team) below:
Physician Anesthesia Care Team members
PHYSICIAN ANESTHESIOLOGIST: Director / Leader of the Anesthesia Care Team Is the Physician Trained and Licensed to Practice Medicine, and Is Subject Matter Expert in the Practice of Anesthesiology. The Physician Anesthesiologist Has Successfully Completed a Training Program in Anesthesiology Accredited by the ACGME, the American Osteopathic Association or Equivalent Physician Organizations.
PHYSICIAN ANESTHESIOLOGIST FELLOW: A Physician Anesthesiologist Enrolled in an Approved Anesthesiology Fellowship Subspecialty Program, Who Has Already Completed a Training Program in Anesthesiology Accredited by the ACGME, the American Osteopathic Association or Equivalent Physician Organizations.
PHYSICIAN ANESTHESIOLOGIST RESIDENT: A Physician Enrolled in an ACGME Accredited Anesthesiology Residency Program.
Non-Physician Anesthesia Care Team Members
ANESTHETIST*: The Name “Anesthetist” in the U.S. Refers to a Nurse Anesthetist or Anesthesiologist Assistant, as Defined Below. For Further Information, Please Refer to the ASA Statement on Comparing Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Education and Practice and ASA Statement on Students Involved in Anesthesia Care.
(Note: In Some Countries, a Physician Who Practices Anesthesiology Is Known as an “Anaesthetist” or “Anesthetist”.)
NURSE ANESTHETIST: A Registered Nurse Who Has Successfully Completed an Accredited Nurse Anesthesia Training Program, and Graduated From an Approved Nursing School (Also Known as “CRNA”).
ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT: A Health Professional Who Has Successfully Completed an Accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant Master’s Degree Training Program, After Graduation From an Approved Baccalaureate Degree Program With Completion of All Premedical Coursework Required for Admission to an AAMC Approved Medical School (Also Known as “CAA”). (For Further Information, Please Refer to the ASA Statement on Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs): Description and Practice.)