SAMBA Talks eNewsletter - September, 2005

Volume 5, Issue 4

S A M B A T A L K S - PAGE 2

September, 2005

JOIN THE DISCUSSION - TOP

Need advice about a problem case in ambulatory anesthesia? Want suggestions about a difficult situation in your ambulatory surgery center? Have a reply to questions others have raised about ambulatory anesthesia issues?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, or would like to share with other professionals a comment or opinion on a topic related to ambulatory anesthesia then please "Join the Discussion" here.

To enter the Discussion with a question, reply, or other comment, please contact us. Your submission will be published in this section of the next available issue of SAMBA TALKS. Include your name (or initials), city, and state, if you would like these published. Please note that because of the high volume of questions we receive, there is often a delay of 1 to 2 months before the questions can be published.

Questions and responses from previous months are now available at the eNewsletter Discussion Archive. If you have any comments regarding the previous questions, please submit them to SAMBA Discussion, and they will be published here next month.

Please note: The information presented in the replies below does not represent SAMBA policy. The replies are solely the opinions of the individuals who wrote them.

?? - LAST MONTH'S QUESTION WITH REPLY - ?? - TOP

PREPARATION FOR OFFICE-BASED ANESTHESIA

In the brave new world of office-based anesthesia and surgery, what can be done on a cost-effective and convenient basis to make sure that patients, who usually arrive in the facility minutes before their procedure, are adequately prepared?

-- From Anonymous

REPLY:

Interesting that you ask this now because we recently devised an office based-anesthesia curriculum at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - this is what we teach to our residents.

Here are a few excerpts that would best answer your question.

"A safe and comfortable experience for the patient must start before arriving on the day of a procedure. A nurse or anesthesiologist should have already interviewed the patient and given pre-operative directions concerning clothing, make-up, hair and beauty products, diet, herbal supplements, other medications, and the opportunity to answer patient questions."

"The psychological stress of surgery can be alleviated somewhat by a calm, confident, non-pharmacologic verbal communication. Part of the positive experience for the patient is an adequate preoperative evaluation, along with education about what to expect from the
anesthesia and surgery. A patient that is well informed is generally less anxious, requires less anesthesia and recovers more rapidly."

In practical terms, if a questionnaire is sent to the patient in advance this can be followed up the day prior or on that day by a nurse/anesthesiologist someone with a knowledge of the anesthesia issues who also has a kind, caring compassionate manner to allay patient fear and anxiety.

By doing so, the patient has a person with whom they are 'bonded' . The goal is to provide a safe, pleasant and comfortable experience. I hope this answers your concerns.

-- From Fred Shapiro, M.D., Boston, MA

?? -- THIS MONTH'S QUESTION -- ?? - TOP

DO OFFICE-BASED PROCEDURES COMPROMISE CARE?

The following question was addressed to colleagues in surgical and other procedural specialties:

"Do you believe that you are compromising patient care and/or safety by doing procedures in your office vs. a hospital setting?"

-- From Anonymous

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