In the era of Healthcare reform, the practice of anesthesia is being redefined by both the advancement of technology and the impact of regulations. As the scope of anesthesia care emerges from the head of the table to include care across the entire perioperative course, the anesthesia team must evolve to meet the new demands.
An article by Bartels K, et al published in Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2011 Dec;24(6):687-92, speculates on the anesthesia team of the future.
According to Bartels, the anesthesia team of the future must provide well tolerated, efficient, and cost-effective perioperative care. Some of the points made are:
- The team of the future must develop standards for simulation assuming that simulation will improve healthcare delivery
- The team of the future will draw large volumes of information and generate data that is more accurate and complete related to the patient’s physiologic parameters. The providers will use smart phones and other devices to add portability to the data they compile.
- Electronic resources will provide real time updates along with physilologic data and pictures to help the provider determine interventions for optimal patient care.
- Merging of databases will streamline operating room utilization, hospital bed utilization and supply ordering and storage
The anesthesia team of the future will utilize all available emerging technology to provide expertise across the perioperative continuum.
Click here to review an abstract of the original work