The relationship between an anesthesiologist and a surgeon can be fractious, especially when the two providers disagree about a patient safety issue or butt heads over scheduling. As data management systems become more commonplace in hospitals and surgery centers, anesthesiologists and surgeons can benefit from data tracked over time on patient safety issues, case delays and other metrics, according to David Salama, MD, anesthesiologist with Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants. "If you don't track data, every decision is [based on] hearsay and individual experience," says Dr. Salama.
Dr. Salama says surgeons who use a data management system have said the ability to track case delays and cancellations due to anesthesia is helpful in solving scheduling problems and discovering lags. If a surgeon finds his cases are consistently cancelled or delayed because of a problem with the anesthesiologist, he can bring up the issue and provide evidence that the facility is losing money because of the anesthesia delay. Since some data management systems can "zoom in" on a provider and examine his or her individual track record for punctuality, patient safety and meeting quality standards, disagreements can be solved by simply looking at the provider's record and letting the data speak for itself.
For example, data management systems can track over time whether a provider is performing according to best practices and industry guidelines and meeting national quality measures. If a surgeon and an anesthesiologist are frequently butting heads over patient safety issues, administrators can look at the providers' track records to determine which actions have historically put the patient at risk for infections, complications or lower patient satisfaction. "The system can track data on patient satisfaction regarding epidurals administered for childbirth," Dr. Salama says. "Without that data, the surgeon might not know his patients are dissatisfied because of problems with the anesthesia."
Learn more about Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants.
Dr. Salama says surgeons who use a data management system have said the ability to track case delays and cancellations due to anesthesia is helpful in solving scheduling problems and discovering lags. If a surgeon finds his cases are consistently cancelled or delayed because of a problem with the anesthesiologist, he can bring up the issue and provide evidence that the facility is losing money because of the anesthesia delay. Since some data management systems can "zoom in" on a provider and examine his or her individual track record for punctuality, patient safety and meeting quality standards, disagreements can be solved by simply looking at the provider's record and letting the data speak for itself.
For example, data management systems can track over time whether a provider is performing according to best practices and industry guidelines and meeting national quality measures. If a surgeon and an anesthesiologist are frequently butting heads over patient safety issues, administrators can look at the providers' track records to determine which actions have historically put the patient at risk for infections, complications or lower patient satisfaction. "The system can track data on patient satisfaction regarding epidurals administered for childbirth," Dr. Salama says. "Without that data, the surgeon might not know his patients are dissatisfied because of problems with the anesthesia."
Learn more about Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants.