Who Administers anesthesia?
GHA has adopted the Care Team approach to administering anesthesia. For each patient, an anesthesiologist performs a preoperative examination and evaluation, prescribes the type of anesthesia the patient will receive, and is present while the anesthetic is administered.
Depending on the circumstances of the case, a CRNA or AA may work with the anesthesiologist to administer the anesthetic and often takes over monitoring the patient's condition under the supervision of the anesthesiologist. However, an anesthesiologist is present during the most demanding procedures of the anesthesia plan and is available for immediate diagnosis and treatment of emergencies.
Following the surgery or procedure, a CRNA, AA or anesthesiologist will take the patient to the post anesthesia care unit ("PACU") and will stay with the patient until it is safe to turn the patient's care over to a recovery room nurse.