Physicians and Surgeons

Physicians and Surgeons typically perform the following tasks: • Monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications. • Record type and amount of anesthesia and patient condition throughout procedure. • Provide and maintain life support and airway management and help prepare patients for emergency surgery. • Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, using local, intravenous, spinal, or caudal methods. • Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures. • Position patient on operating table to maximize patient comfort and surgical accessibility. • Coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons during operation. • Decide when patients have recovered or stabilized enough to be sent to another room or ward or to be sent home following outpatient surgery. • Confer with other medical professionals to determine type and method of anesthetic or sedation to render patient insensible to pain. • Order laboratory tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic procedures. • Inform students and staff of types and methods of anesthesia administration, signs of complications, and emergency methods to counteract reactions. • Provide medical care and consultation in many settings, prescribing medication and treatment and referring patients for surgery. • Manage anesthesiological services, coordinating them with other medical activities and formulating plans and procedures. • Diagnose illnesses, using examinations, tests, and reports. • Coordinate and direct work of nurses, medical technicians, and other health care providers. • Instruct individuals and groups on ways to preserve health and prevent disease. • Schedule and maintain use of surgical suite, including operating, wash-up, waiting rooms, or anesthetic and sterilizing equipment. • Conduct medical research to aid in controlling and curing disease, to investigate new medications, and to develop and test new medical techniques. • Place invasive intravascular monitors into patients. • Teach anesthesiology principles to residents.