Anesthesiologist Visit Urged Before Surgery

When patients see their anesthesiologist before surgery, it can increase patient safety and satisfaction and reduce healthcare costs, according to a new study from the University of Chicago (IL, USA).

The six-month study involved 4,016 surgical patients. Those patients seen by anesthesiologists in preoperative clinics before their surgery had fewer surgery cancellation rates and delays, which lead to dissatisfied patients and increased costs.
Even though the patients who did received a preoperative evaluation by an anesthesiologist tended to be sicker and in need of more complex procedures, only 7.7% of procedures for these patients were cancelled, compared to a 19% cancellation rate for patients not seen by their anesthesiologist before surgery.

"For the patient, the visits provide an opportunity to talk about options for anesthesia in a relaxed and unhurried setting and have all their questions answered,” explained David B. Glick, M.D., an anesthesiologist at the University of Chicago. These visits allow anesthesiologists to complete a thorough evaluation of the patients and order any presurgical tests indicated. This results in fewer delayed or cancelled surgeries.

Currently in the United States, government and private insurers do not reimburse for visits to an anesthesia preoperative clinic, so when surgeons refer patients to such a clinic, the anesthesiology groups bear the cost. The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists in Las Vegas (NV, USA) in October 2004.