Week honors ‘gold standard’ team model used by Michigan anesthesiologists to ensure patient safety, care
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, 2025, as Physician Anesthesiologists Week in recognition of Michigan’s anesthesiologists as guardians of patient safety in health care. In her proclamation, Whitmer emphasized the Anesthesia Team model,, 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 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) is applauding the governor for highlighting the critical role of Michigan’s anesthesiologists in keeping patients safe.
“Just as a highly skilled flight crew ensures the safety and success of a flight, the Anesthesia Care Team excels when every member of the team works together cohesively with the anesthesiologist as the team leader,” MSA president Dr. Michael Lewis said. “At the helm, anesthesiologists provide leadership of all team members and are responsible for delivering safe, high-quality anesthesia care. If a patient flatlines, has a seizure, heart attack or stroke during surgery, it’s the anesthesiologist who leads the team to save the patient’s life.”
No other health care professional can replace an anesthesiologist in the life-or-death moments that matter most, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists. In fact, nine in 10 surgeons consider anesthesiologists the most capable of diagnosing and treating complications during surgery.
Anesthesiologists do a lot more than putting people to sleep and waking them up. As reported in the Michigan Chronicle and other local news outlets last year, anesthesiologists at Henry Ford Health and Michigan Medicine launched the largest clinical trial yet to determine whether administering cannabidiol (CBD) before and after surgery can reduce the need for opioids following total knee replacement.
Anesthesiologists also lead training for medical providers in a wide range of areas to improve patient health and safety. For example, Dr. John Mitchell, an anesthesiologist at Henry Ford Health, teaches members of the U.S. military to use a portable ultrasound device the size of a cell phone to make critical medical decisions in combat. Mitchell’s colleague, Dr. Anoop Chhina, educates first responders and health care providers across different departments to quickly identify and properly care for patients with increased spinal injury risks.
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.
“Our role as 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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