Q&A: Anesthesia services oversight

Q: What are the supervision requirements for anesthesia services?

A: It is required that all anesthesia services in the organization be overseen by a single anesthesia entity and directed by a qualified physician. This means the head of anesthesia services provides oversight of the anesthesia-related services administered in the hospital regardless of location, such as outpatient surgery, gastrointestinal (GI) lab, obstetrics/gynecology unit, emergency department, or psychiatry. The requirements also include the following:

• The medical staff must determine the qualifications criteria for the head of anesthesiology services. The bylaws or rules and regulations must include criteria for privileging the type of anesthesia requested to be administered by each practitioner, the complexity of procedures, and whether supervision is required. Approval by the governing body is mandatory.
• Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) supervisors must have specific information spelled out regarding the types and complexities of procedures they may oversee, but they don’t need specific privileges to perform these procedures.
• Acceptable standards of anesthesia care must be followed (e.g., those from the American Society of Anesthesiology).