Work Schedule: Variable. Schedule to be set by management per facility needs. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required The anesthesiologist is responsible for a patient's life functions as the surgeon and other members of the medical team operate. Intraoperatively, an anesthesiologist carefully monitors the patient's vital signs including heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, oxygenation, and level of consciousness, and adjusts anesthetics as needed. The anesthesiologist administers anesthesia. During the middle phase, as the surgery actually takes place, the anesthesiologist uses sophisticated electronic equipment to carefully monitor the patient's vital signs, including heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, breathing, and brain and kidney functions. As the surgical procedure progresses, the anesthesiologist may have to adjust the patient's anesthesia to compensate for changes in the patient's physical state. Functions: To perform at a minimum 90% of his/her time in a clinical role 10% in administrative and educational role Practice: Expected to function as a cooperative and collegial team member with the entire Anesthesia department. Participates in the development, implementation and maintenance of a systematic assessment of clinical, administrative and research practices in support of critical care. Reviews medical charts of patients identified Peer Review; discuss cases/medical charts with physicians when needed/required. Promotes quality in clinical practice by collaborating with Providers, Clinical Programs, Interdisciplinary Treatment Teams, Care Lines/Services and/or committees. Ensures that initial and ongoing assessments of patients to identify needs, issues, resources and care goals are provided, in a timely manner. Ensures that care-related goals (both short and long term) and patient outcomes are identified by the requesting provider, patient, and family/significant other. Analyzes and evaluates the clinical contents of medical records and associated documents, in terms of the quality and appropriateness of clinical care issues, such as adherence to, or deviation from accepted referral/consultation guidelines, standards and/or procedures. Makes determinations of medical necessity and documents approval or denial of referral/consultation requests for Anesthesia care with supporting data and rationale in the electronic medical record. Complete and sign all required documentation H&P, Anesthesia records, Discharge Summary, Encounters, and progress notes within the 24 hour requirement. Adheres to Provider Order Entry (POE). Timely documentation as a basic component of evaluation for all clinicians. Clinicians supervising residents ensure proper documentation occurs and counter signs in timely manner. Monitors specific clinical activities for compliance with VA policies, assuring that findings are utilized to modify and/or improve their performance and to facilitate the accomplishments of their goals and objectives. Administration: Participates in assessing learning needs of unit/clinical program staff related to Critical Care Performs staff support work in short and long-range planning efforts. Identifies, prepares and presents clear, precise summaries of case management activities, including their significance and implications for patient care and/or family/community relations. Examines services and recommends Education: Promotes patient independence and achievement of optimal health through appropriate patient education and community referrals Participates fully in educational development through staff meetings and assumes responsibility for professional development by attending relevant training and professional education, and by maintaining current competencies and licensure. Incumbent is expected to attend the regular Medical Staff meetings and Surgical Care Line Council and M&M. Teaching is considered a major duty of a VA staff Anesthesiologist. This pertains to colleagues, residents, medical and nursing students, nursing and other ancillary staff
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
