Officials from All Saints defended the anesthesia model, saying that the practice is safe and commonly used across Wisconsin and the country. According to the report, in the All Saints model, anesthesiologists are present at the start and end of procedures but may rotate throughout the rooms in the operating suite during that time. Although the nurse anesthetist is present the whole time, some surgeons worry that if something goes wrong, the nurse may not be trained to handle the situation. Anesthesiologists who worked at Wheaton said in the report that most physicians work only with two nurses at a time and are in close proximity in case of an emergency.
The change in policy is part of a months’ long change in anesthesia service at All Saints. In January, the hospital switched providers from Southeastern Anesthesia Services, who provided anesthesia services for over 20 years, to Anesthetix Management and Racine Anesthesia Services Group. All but two of the original anesthesiologists left the hospital in December, according to the report.
The former anesthesiologists had argued that Wheaton and All Saints had tried the nurse provider model in the past and did not see success. The change in policy, along with a pay cut and change in management, led to the decision to leave, according to the report.
Officials from All Saints said in the report that the model is a good one and allows physicians to spend more time focused on patient care rather than paperwork.
Read the Journal Times’ report on Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints anesthesia model.
