Researchers used payer data for 443,000 inpatient Medicare cases between 2004 and 2011. They examined 421,230 surgical cases featuring an anesthesiologist and nurse anesthesiologist and 21,688 cases featuring an anesthesiologist and an anesthesiologist assistant.
Adjusted mortality rate for the anesthesiologist, anesthesiologist assistant care team was 1.6 percent, compared to the anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist care team’s 1.7 percent.
Care teams with anesthesiologist assistants had non-statistically significant decreases in length of stay and medical spending.
Researchers concluded, “The article shows that anesthesia care provided by an anesthesiologist assistant or nurse anesthetist is equivalent when led by a physician anesthesiologist. Our results suggest that physician supervision is able to ensure the same outcomes regardless of the team member’s differences in training and background.”
Note: The study was funded in part by the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
More articles on anesthesia:
Shining a Light on the Value of Value-Based Care: ASCs are positioned to lead the way
Total joints in ASCs: 3 orthopedic surgeons answer 6 big questions
Blue Cross Blue Shield’s value-based care program outperforming competitors — 4 insights
