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Anesthesiologist's Assistant
The anesthesiologist's assistant works with the anesthesiologist collecting pre-operation data, performing various preoperative tasks, administering supportive therapy, providing recovery room care, and performing other functions or tasks relating to care i n an intensive care unit or pain clinic. They also provide anesthesia monitoring services, and perform administrative functions and tasks such as staff education.
| Some of the responsibilities might include: |
| • | Taking an appropriate health history and performing an appropriate physical examination |
| • | Assisting the anesthesiologist in the insertion of intravenous and arterial lines, central venous pressure monitors, special catheters |
| • | In airway management and drug administration for induction and maintenance of anesthesia |
| • | Administering intravenous fluids and vasodilators |
Anesthesiologist's assistants work principally in medical centers, they provide technical support according to established protocols. This support includes first-level maintenance of anesthesia equipment; skillful operation of special monitors, including echocardiographs, electroencephalographs, special analyzers, evoked-potential apparatuses, autotransfusion devices, mass spectrometers, intra-aortic balloon pumps; the operation and maintenance of bedside electronic computer-based monitors; supervised laboratory functions associated with anesthesia and operating room care; and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Job Outlook
The position of anesthesiologist's assistant is relatively new; thus, there is a greater demand than supply. They are likely to be employed in hospitals with 200 beds and larger and with a staff of 15 or more anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologist's assistants; which use a team approach to anesthesia service; have facilities for open heart surgery; and have a graduate medical residency training program for anesthesiologists.
Educational Requirements
The anesthesiologist's assistant programs are essentially two years in length, on a master's degree model. Prerequisites require a baccalaureate degree with a major in cell biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computers science, physiology, or the allied health professions.
Educational Programs
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