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especially when it comes to hand hygiene. Yes, we anesthesia providers don't
always disinfect our hands after airway manipulation, wear gloves to start an IV
or clean the anesthesia workstation between cases. That requires education,
monitoring and clear communication of your expectations. Have frank conver-
sations with your providers: We're shooting for a zero SSI infection rate. We
strictly enforce our infection prevention policies, which are a condition of
working here.
Demand excellence
Your anesthesia team should constantly explore ways to enhance patient
care and clinical efficiencies by using a light anesthesia touch, effective pain con-
trol methods and PONV prevention protocols. The unprecedented amount of
consolidation among anesthesia provider groups over the last decade — the
large national group I'm working for has been bought up by an even larger group
— could limit competition in your market and leave you with few options if
you're unhappy with the performance of your current team. However, provider
conglomerates are typically staffed with professionals who realize delivering
quality care will improve outcomes and drive down the overall cost of health
care. In fact, the company I work for requires me to complete a form that tracks
40 elements related to quality measures — including potential issues, from a sim-
ple anesthesia delay to death — before billing for a case.
Expect more
Nameless, faceless, masked providers who consider themselves nothing
more than plunger pushers have no spot on my anesthesia team. The value an
anesthesia group brings to the head of the table must go beyond providing
average anesthesia and leading the occasional staff in-service on how to
improve IV starts. Groups that excel employ providers who bring value that
you might not have even considered and have administrative expertise that
extends beyond running anesthesia departments. They might have experience
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