SAMBA Talks eNewsletter - October, 2003

SAMBA MIDYEAR MEETING: OCTOBER, 2003 - TOP

Make Your Plans Now to Attend…

Mid Year Meeting 2003:
Challenges in Ambulatory Anesthesia
October 10, 2003
(One day before the ASA Annual Meeting)
San Francisco Hilton Hotel and Towers
San Francisco, California

The sixth annual event, focusing on the latest topics of importance to practitioners of ambulatory anesthesia, presented in the city that steals your heart away. General topics, presented by a faculty of leading experts, include:

Clinical Challenges I: Pushing the Limits
Administrative Challenges I: Rules and Regulations
Clinical Challenges II: Specialty Practice
Administrative Challenges II: Practical Information on Accreditation and Solving O.R. Management Problems.

Meeting programs are now available on-line. (PDF file (2 MB)) Pre-registration is now closed but you can still register at the meeting.

The Society would like your input into the SAMBA Mid Year Meeting, presented annually the Friday prior to the start of the ASA Annual Meeting. Please take a minute and complete the online survey. The information provided by the members will be used in the planning of future SAMBA CME activities.

2004 SAMBA ANNUAL MEETING - TOP

Mark your calendars for the 19th Annual SAMBA Meeting, to be held April 30 – May 2, 2004 in Seattle, Washington. Plan now to attend this unique educational experience bringing together internationally known experts from across the field of ambulatory anesthesia and presented in the magnificent Pacific Northwest. Look for preview flyers at the ASA- Annual Meeting in October 2003, and the complete program on-line soon.

Abstract submission deadline is February 15, 2004. Electronic submission of abstracts will be available soon on the SAMBA website. Only abstracts submitted electronically will be considered for grading.

MEET THE COMMITTEE: Committee on Office-Based Anesthesia- TOP

Office-based anesthesia has seen a lot of interest and growth in recent years due to:
• Increased patient convenience and greater patient satisfaction.
• Physician convenience and control over their own centers and schedules.
• The tremendous growth of ASC’S and office suites to take advantage of facility fees and increased surgeon fees. HMO’s realize significant savings by transitioning care to the office based setting from the SPU and ASC setting.
• Better quality lifestyle for anesthesia providers, offering a routine work schedule Monday through Friday without night and weekend coverage issues.

This sub-specialty of ambulatory anesthesia is at present governed with very few guidelines and regulations, and its safety and quality have been challenged. Our goal as anesthesiologists in this field is to guide this growth so it develops with appropriate safeguards and practice parameters. These guidelines should ensure patient safety, plus practice quality and consistency.

The SAMBA Committee on Office-Based Anesthesia will develop goals and projects that advance the field, and clarify the rules and regulations governing this field. Look for the committee's survey that will gauge the involvement of the SAMBA membership in various office-based activities. As a resource to the SAMBA membership, the committee will also offer practical information in the setting up of an office-based practice to reduce the “learning curve”. If one has any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the chair of the committee, Dr Meena Desai.