American Society of Anesthesiologists

Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research, and scientific society.

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Social media in medicine

Find your social media voice. Patients are listening.

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Paul H. Ting, MD

October 5, 2015Oct 5, 2015

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. "Social media engagement" is a buzzword in today’s business world. There is no clear definition of this term, but most agree that it involves some measure that those…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

“Social media engagement” is a buzzword in today’s business world. There is no clear definition of this term, but most agree that it involves some measure that those looking at your online content are actually interested in what you have to say. In other words, is anybody listening?

One of the definitions of “engage” is to “hold the attention …

Conditions and diseases

Now is the time for acute pain medicine specialists

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Edward R. Mariano, MD

September 12, 2015Sep 12, 20159

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Since September is Pain Awareness Month, it’s time to recognize that not all pain is equal. Chronic pain can be alleviated, but "acute" pain (sudden onset, brief in…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Since September is Pain Awareness Month, it’s time to recognize that not all pain is equal.

Chronic pain can be alleviated, but “acute” pain (sudden onset, brief in duration, often with an identifiable cause) must be eliminated. This requires a systems-based approach led by physicians dedicated to understanding the physiological processes associated with acute pain and investigating new ways to treat …

Physician voices

The most feared medical specialty? It’s actually one of the safest.

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Susan G. Curling, MD

August 18, 2015Aug 18, 201519

I often hear patients say, “I am not afraid of the surgery, just the anesthesia.” But should patients worry? Physician anesthesiologists suffered a crisis in confidence in 1982 when the ABC television program 20/20 aired, “The Deep Sleep: 6,000 Will…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

I often hear patients say, “I am not afraid of the surgery, just the anesthesia.”

But should patients worry? Physician anesthesiologists suffered a crisis in confidence in 1982 when the ABC television program 20/20 aired, “The Deep Sleep: 6,000 Will Die or Suffer Brain Damage,” about anesthesia complications, brain injury, and …

Physician voices

Summer is a busy season for trauma anesthesiologists

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Karla Villacin, MD & Maureen McCunn, MD

July 15, 2015Jul 15, 2015

Summer is immortalized in popular culture for good reasons -- no other season can match it for the variety of fun and exciting activities it brings. Unfortunately, that variety of activities and the large volume of people enjoying them inevitably…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Summer is immortalized in popular culture for good reasons — no other season can match it for the variety of fun and exciting activities it brings. Unfortunately, that variety of activities and the large volume of people enjoying them inevitably lead to accidents and mishaps of all kinds. …

Health policy

Is your anesthesiology practice poised for success?

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Jay Mesrobian, MD

May 28, 2015May 28, 2015

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Earlier this year, I spoke to an audience of physician anesthesiologists about setting up a basic quality assurance (QA) program within their departments. At the end of the…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Earlier this year, I spoke to an audience of physician anesthesiologists about setting up a basic quality assurance (QA) program within their departments. At the end of the presentation, one physician anesthesiologist stated that his group “will not let anyone out of the operating room (OR) to do QA.” He further described how any activity not related …

Physician voices

A physician anesthesiologist reports in from Afghanistan

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH

May 4, 2015May 4, 2015

As a physician, you never quite get used to being paged in the middle of the night. The shrill tones emitted via a radio frequency device that seems squarely stuck in the 1980s are almost always the first sign of…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Physician voices

What does it mean to be a health care leader?

American Society of Anesthesiologists & James D. Grant, MD

April 10, 2015Apr 10, 20155

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Clearly, physicians are the leaders of the health care team. We were educated and trained for that role. But on the business and political sides of health care,…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Clearly, physicians are the leaders of the health care team. We were educated and trained for that role.

But on the business and political sides of health care, maybe not so much.

One reason is that the word “leadership” has a lot of different meanings. A leader in one area is not automatically a leader in another area. Requisite skill sets …

Physician voices

An informed patient is a safer patient

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Fred E. Shapiro, DO

March 9, 2015Mar 9, 20154

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. The health care landscape is changing, and now more than ever we as physicians should be focused on quality of care and ensuring the safety of our patients.…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

The health care landscape is changing, and now more than ever we as physicians should be focused on quality of care and ensuring the safety of our patients. Anesthesiology was the first medical specialty to champion patient safety as a specific focus. Over the past century, physician anesthesiologists have advanced patient safety through innovative research, science and technology advancements. …

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An informed patient is a safer patient

Conditions and diseases

Having surgery? Here’s how to manage your medications.

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Gregory M. Janelle, MD & Kent B. Berg, MD, MBA

February 16, 2015Feb 16, 2015

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Before undergoing surgery, you should carefully discuss your medications with your surgeon and physician anesthesiologist. You may fare better during the operation and the early recovery phase if…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Before undergoing surgery, you should carefully discuss your medications with your surgeon and physician anesthesiologist. You may fare better during the operation and the early recovery phase if you continue required medications, but you might need to avoid some medications that could interfere with your anesthesia. Three medical conditions and associated medications that should help improve your chances of …

Physician voices

Truth in advertising: When is a doctor really a doctor?

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Daniel Campos, MD, MPH

January 27, 2015Jan 27, 201517

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. In an emergency, the first question people often ask is: “Is there a doctor in the house?” When you have a medical problem, the best advice is, “Ask…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

In an emergency, the first question people often ask is: “Is there a doctor in the house?” When you have a medical problem, the best advice is, “Ask your doctor.” Most people automatically assume that “doctor” in this context refers to a physician with a medical degree.

Dentists, chiropractors, and podiatrists are well-educated professionals who may also be addressed as …

Health technology

Your electronic health record may lack vital information

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Linda Hertzberg, MD

November 7, 2014Nov 7, 20142

When you walk into any physician’s office or hospital, computers are everywhere. By 2013, nearly 70 percent of hospitals had moved away from paper charts and toward electronic health records, or EHRs, and more are making the change every day.…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

From the patient’s point of view, it’s reasonable to think that …

Conditions and diseases

Outpatient anesthesia in elderly patients: What to watch for

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Nina Singh-Radcliff, MD

October 12, 2014Oct 12, 2014

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. More than 75 percent of operations in the U.S. occur in an outpatient setting. Outpatient, or ambulatory care, can take place in a number of different settings, including…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

More than 75 percent of operations in the U.S. occur in an outpatient setting. Outpatient, or ambulatory care, can take place in a number of different settings, including physician offices, outpatient surgery centers, or hospital or non-hospital-based outpatient clinics. With more and more elderly patients undergoing outpatient procedures, it’s important to consider the unique risks of geriatric anesthesia care. Not …

Physician voices

Curbing prescription pain medication abuse by working together

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Asokumar Buvanendran, MD

September 18, 2014Sep 18, 2014

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. I recently heard a story on the news about a grandmother of eight who had gotten addicted to heroin after being prescribed an opioid painkiller, Oxycontin, for hip…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

I recently heard a story on the news about a grandmother of eight who had gotten addicted to heroin after being prescribed an opioid painkiller, Oxycontin, for hip pain. It sounds extreme, but unfortunately to those of us in the pain medicine field, it’s all too familiar.

Every year in September we acknowledge people struggling with pain during National …

Physician voices

A primer on the anesthesia care team model

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Kraig S. de Lanzac, MD

August 10, 2014Aug 10, 20144

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Daily, and often several times a day, I am asked by patients about my role as a physician anesthesiologist. Occasionally the answer involves reiterating to patients that an…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Daily, and often several times a day, I am asked by patients about my role as a physician anesthesiologist. Occasionally the answer involves reiterating to patients that an anesthesiologist is a physician. Once we get into the discussion, patients are also surprised to learn that as part of an anesthesia care team (ACT), although I am frequently in …

Physician voices

3 ways to master the art of teaming in medicine

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Della M. Lin, MD

July 24, 2014Jul 24, 2014

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. As a physician anesthesiologist in a community hospital setting for more than 25 years, the quest for mastery keeps my practice from getting stale or boring. I relish…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

As a physician anesthesiologist in a community hospital setting for more than 25 years, the quest for mastery keeps my practice from getting stale or boring. I relish the technological innovations in the past decade: the video laryngoscopes and ultrasound-guided nerve blocks that allow my skills and competencies to be ever-challenged. There is a magnetic draw to …

Physician voices

A mission trip to Kenya: Challenge, success and heartbreak

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Donna-Ann Thomas, MD

May 20, 2014May 20, 2014

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Mission must have always been in my blood, but it took me a while to discover it. I considered going on a mission trip to Bungoma, Kenya, in…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Mission must have always been in my blood, but it took me a while to discover it. I considered going on a mission trip to Bungoma, Kenya, in 2009, but the timing coincided with one of the major conferences at the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists. The conference won the first time, but the second time around …

Conditions and diseases

Is nerve block anesthesia better for surgery?

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Susan G. Curling, MD

April 6, 2014Apr 6, 2014

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. More needles ... who wants that? You probably do! Nerve block anesthesia, also called regional anesthesia, requires localized numbing and additional needle sticks, but it has many advantages.…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

More needles … who wants that? You probably do! Nerve block anesthesia, also called regional anesthesia, requires localized numbing and additional needle sticks, but it has many advantages. Primarily, it can have a profound effect on your pain after surgery, and improve your rehabilitation and decrease your risk of complications.

Pain is a devilish thing. After surgery, it keeps …

Physician voices

Aviation and anesthesiology: The importance of training

American Society of Anesthesiologists & James R. Mesrobian, MD

March 8, 2014Mar 8, 20145

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Comparisons between the airline industry and anesthesia care are common. One of the most commonly heard analogies is that the takeoff and landing of a jetliner are similar…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Comparisons between the airline industry and anesthesia care are common. One of the most commonly heard analogies is that the takeoff and landing of a jetliner are similar to induction and emergence during a general anesthetic. But there are other equally important analogies between the two professions. Today, payers, health care organizations and medical providers are focused more …

Conditions and diseases

10 things to know about anesthesia and heart surgery

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Gregory M. Janelle, MD & Kent B. Berg, MD, MBA

February 15, 2014Feb 15, 2014

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. February is American Heart Month. Unfortunately, heart disease is a major problem in the United States that can result in surgery. In addition to discussing your procedure with…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

February is American Heart Month. Unfortunately, heart disease is a major problem in the United States that can result in surgery. In addition to discussing your procedure with your surgeon, you want to be sure to discuss your anesthesia care with your physician anesthesiologist.

Here are 10 key questions and answers to help guide you through anesthesia for …

Drugs and prescribing

Drug shortages can jeopardize patient safety

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Jeffrey S. Jacobs, MD

January 18, 2014Jan 18, 2014

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. When doctors don’t have access to medications that are necessary to successfully perform procedures, patient safety is at risk. Over the past several years, drug shortages have significantly…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

When doctors don’t have access to medications that are necessary to successfully perform procedures, patient safety is at risk. Over the past several years, drug shortages have significantly impacted the health care industry, making it not only difficult for physicians to do their jobs, but for patients to receive optimal care. For some reason, though, this issue hasn’t …