Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2024
ReviewSafety amid the scalpels: creating psychological safety in the operating room.
We briefly review the concept of psychological safety and discuss the actions that can create it in the anesthesiologist's work environment. ⋯ To ensure patient safety, we want members of the teams we lead to be comfortable sharing emerging problems that they see before we become aware of them. As educators, we want trainees to approach us when they do not understand something and openly participate and contribute without the fear of how others will perceive them. These scenarios require an environment of psychological safety - the ability to ask for help, admit mistakes, and be respectfully forthright with unpopular beliefs without the fear of being ostracized or ignored. Methods for creating an environment of psychological safety will be discussed.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2024
ReviewThe electronic health record: does it enhance or distract from patient safety?
The electronic health record (EHR) is an invaluable tool that may be used to improve patient safety. With a variety of different features, such as clinical decision support and computerized physician order entry, it has enabled improvement of patient care throughout medicine. EHR allows for built-in reminders for such items as antibiotic dosing and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. ⋯ There are numerous potential pitfalls associated with EHR use to improve patient safety, as well as great potential for future improvement.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2024
ReviewBest perioperative practices in the management of obstructive sleep apnea patients undergoing ambulatory surgery.
This review is timely due to the increasing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among patients undergoing ambulatory surgery, necessitating updated perioperative management strategies to improve outcomes and reduce complications. ⋯ Effective management of OSA in ambulatory surgery requires a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing preoperative screening, tailored intraoperative techniques, and vigilant postoperative monitoring. Implementing guidelines and protocols can significantly enhance patient safety and outcomes.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2024
ReviewDental sedation permit requirements for physician anesthesiologists in the United States and the European Union: a review.
This review addresses the dental sedation permit requirements for physician anesthesiologists in the United States and the European Union (EU). The regulatory landscape for office-based anesthesia, including dental settings, is often described as the 'Wild West' of patient safety, making it crucial to outline the similarities and differences in dental anesthesia regulations and offer practical guidelines for regulators. ⋯ By comparing dental anesthesia regulations and guidelines across all U.S. states and the EU, the review aims to offer practical guidelines for regulators to institute an oversight process that is fair to physician anesthesiologists and does not impede their ability to practice in the dental office setting. This framework for credentialing and permitting physicians in dental office-based anesthesia settings is informed by existing safety recommendations and best practices.