what does a doctor specializing in anaesthesiology or an anaesthesiologist do?

Question

i heard they are the highest earning doctors.. what do they do?

uhm do anaesthesiologists do surgery too? or are they just there to monitor the patient's status while undergoing surgery?

Answer 1

Anesthesiologists are doctors who give patients drugs to relieve pain or put them to sleep during surgery.

The following list of occupational tasks is specific to anesthesiologists.

-Read medical charts.
-Review comments of other physicians.
-Meet with, examine, and interview patients. Order tests or procedures if necessary.
-Discuss and plan sedation with other doctors, nurses, and patients.
-Tell patients and family members what to expect.
-Position patients appropriately on the operating table for the type of procedure.
-Give anesthesia or sedating medicine during medical procedures.
-Monitor equipment during and after the procedure.
-Keep track of the flow of anesthesia and patients' vital signs.
-Record all activities.
-Speak with patients who are awake.
-Respond to any reactions or complications from anesthesia.
-Take classes to update skills.
-After the procedure, decide when patients are stable enough to be sent home or to another ward of the hospital.
-Schedule use of medical rooms and equipment.
-May teach medical students and other staff members.
-May help with emergencies in the hospital.
-May write and publish articles.

Answer 2

over here in America, the 'highest earning' part is no longer correct.

My brother-in-law is the managing partner of an anaesthesia practice in his Florida community. More and more, their doctors supervise the work of nurse aneasthesiologists and only directly handle problem cases.

As you'd guess -- the doctors get paid much less for only 'supervising' and have to try and make it up by 'supervising' as many as four procedures at once.

This means that there is only one MD aneasthesiologist on duty for all four ORs where, in the past, there were four on duty.

Thus, hours worked per MD are way down and therefore their income is also way down. Way down = half what it was or less.

As you'd guess, the MD's malpractice insurance cost has not fallen in proportion to his hours since that is rated based on the number of procedures he undertakes or supervises !!

This creates a major financial squeeze on the MDs.

***
If this hasn't yet happened in your country -- be warned -- it will.

Every national health service in every country has a huge financial crisis underway. Demand for service is skyrocketing while tax resources to pay for the costs are crimped.

***
What? you didn't think America has a national health service? from the viewpoint of doctors, it already does -- it is called MediCare/MedicAid. Our federal government already dictates how much MDs will be paid for over 1/2 their case load, AND another 1/3rd or so are subject to HMO, PPO, or other 'managed care' price controls (which average about 125% of MediCare prices). The remaining 1/7th (approx.) are supposedly 'free market' and that means the doctor gets paid his full fee, IF and ONLY IF, he is able to collect it from the often poor patients who can't really afford his fees.

Answer 3

An anesthesiologist (American English), or anaesthetist (British English) (also, "anaesthesiologist"), is a medical doctor trained to administer anesthesia (put u to sleep safely) and manage the medical care of patients before, during, and after surgery. to find out more check this link, its very helpful, Good Luck! -Nay
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaesthesiologist

Answer 4

These doctors are the ones that are responsible for your anesthetic during a medical procedure. Anesthetic, if you don't know, is what puts you to sleep and/or numbs the pain. It's an exact science, where too little or too much or the wrong type of medicine could literally kill you.

If it weren't for anesthesiologists, going to the hospital would be a much more painful experience!

Answer 5

hello sumoxil! sounds like youve adopted your name from a brand of medicine :>

anyway, anesthesiologists are responsible for infussing/injecting patients who are about to have an operatio (delivery, surgery, etc). they apply anesthesia locally or otehrwise.

the reason they are highly paid bec it takes skill to locate the right spot to inject and a small mistake will cost a life

i have a close friend who is still in the hospital bec he had a surgery of his left thigh (titanium nail inserted). I saw the bill. the anes was charging 600USD for the operation..

Answer 6

They also have outrageous insurance due to the liability, and they get sued quite often. Don't go for just the money i know a lot of doctors that are banking and they include pain management doctors, orthopedic surgeons, and etc.

Answer 7

Go to this link and read the article on anesthesiology and anesthesiologists.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anesthesiologists

Peace and blessings!