Anesthesia providers are in a position to serve at the forefront of the evolution of patient care. The primary professional duty of an anesthesiologist is to ensure that every patient experiences a safe, accurate procedure with a palatable post-operative recovery…
In recent years, the medical literature has increased the emphasis on patient-provider relationships. In the context of this relationship, it is critical for the provider to practice empathy with their patients, as exemplified by the art of listening. The importance…
In 2018, a major academic hospital was placed in a state of urgency when they were reported for four cases of patient misidentification, each of which resulted in erroneous and inappropriate medical care[1]. In more than one case, patients received…
As healthcare in the United States continue to develop, the patient’s medical record has evolved from a set of pages held in hard copy in a physician’s office. In most, if not all, healthcare providers nationwide, a patient’s medical record…
Surgical site infections (SSI) are the target of several national and institutional initiatives as they not uncommon, affecting 1-3% of post-operative patients.1 While some infections are superficial and associated with mild irritation and discharge, deeper infections can impair wound healing,…
As anesthesiologists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), and other anesthesia professionals continue to advance the field, the topic of medication delivery is core to process optimization. In many medical institutions in the United States, operating rooms favor the historical vial-and-syringe…
This summer, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a report summarizing the VA Health Administration’s Occupational Staffing Shortages. The report details the current status of VA Medical Centers across the United States, including self-reported disparities in staffing from both…
Medical malpractice claims are rising in prominence as a serious healthcare issue in the United States healthcare system. In the strictest legal definition, medical malpractice is a legal suit which must be able to attest that the healthcare practitioner breached…
With the extension of expected life span in the United States, the aging population is expected to increase. By 2030, 20% of the country’s population will be greater than 65 years old. When compared to the younger population, elderly individuals…
Since the turn of the 21st century, drug shortages, especially those related to anesthetics, have compounded. Despite the passing of the 2012 Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA), which included the Strategic Plan for Preventing and Mitigating…