Week provides opportunity to honor “gold standard” team model Michigan anesthesiologists use in patient safety, care
LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed January 28 to February 3, 2024, as Physician Anesthesiologists Week in recognition of Michigan’s physician anesthesiologists as guardians of patient safety in health care. Whitmer emphasized the Anesthesia Team model in her proclamation, which is led by anesthesiologists and widely recognized as the “gold standard of care” in Michigan and across the nation.
Whitmer urged all Michiganders to recognize physician anesthesiologists, “who serve as critical care specialists and work to greatly improve the safety of anesthesia and the well-being of surgical patients, Veterans and chronic pain patients each day.”
The Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists (MSA) applauds the governor for highlighting the critical role of Michigan’s anesthesiologists in keeping patients safe.
“Anesthesiologists are a unique medical specialty who oversee anesthesia professionals, monitor vital signs, shoulder the responsibility to make real-time adjustments to help ensure patients’ health and safety and lead innovative initiatives and collaborations,” MSA president Dr. Michael Lewis said. “Most patients under our care are in a state of unconsciousness, trusting us with their well-being. Our extensive training equips us to diagnose medical conditions accurately, make crucial decisions in seconds and lead healthcare teams.”
This was demonstrated recently by senior staff anesthesiologist Dr. Henna Tirmizi of Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital when she played a crucial role in identifying and addressing a catastrophic complication in a Farmington Hills woman shortly after childbirth, as reported in the Detroit Free Press. The patient’s complication with amniotic fluid embolism was discovered and treated quickly based on Tirmizi’s judgment.
The extensive education and training required of anesthesiologists prepares them to navigate crucial life-and-death moments, helps ensure patients receive patient-centered care and leads to innovation at the intersections of safety, pain, technology and data.
Anesthesiologists with advanced training in pain management are leading advancements in pain control techniques, improving the quality of life for patients struggling with chronic pain and working to combat the opioid epidemic. Across the state, anesthesiologists are working one-on-one with patients and developing non-opioid pain management options. Dr. Lara Zador founded the Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic at Henry Ford Health, which works interdisciplinarity to treat and manage patients’ pain.
Anesthesiologists in Michigan founded the Anesthesiology Performance Improvement and Reporting Exchange (ASPIRE), a nationally recognized set of tools for visual performance across anesthesia providers and hospitals, leading to collaborative quality improvements, such as reducing errors and preventing complications. There are now more than 70 participating institutions ranging from large academic health systems to small community hospitals.
“Our role as physician anesthesiologists extends beyond the confines of the operating room,” Lewis said. “It embodies a profound commitment to patient-centered care, driven by our unique qualifications and unwavering dedication. We are not solely practitioners but also advocates for our patients’ safety, health and comfort.”
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