The Majority of Anesthesia Practitioners Say that Communication Impacts Surgery

A new survey from Merck's OR-Xchange program found that anesthesia professionals and surgeons feel that better operating room communication could increase collaboration.

 

The study involved 255 surgeons, 202 anesthesiologists and 50 nurse anesthetists from various healthcare settings, most of whom were generally satisfied with the communication in their teams according to the survey.

 

Communication, however, appeared to be important to the job at hand. About nine in 10 anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists thought that communication with the attending surgeon had an impact on their ability to manage the planned anesthesia. About nine in 10 surgeons said the same thing.  

 

All groups indicated that the following strategies could improve communication and collaboration among their team somewhat or very much: 

 

1. The surgeon's understanding of the anesthesia plan

 

2. The anesthesiologist's understanding of the surgical plan

 

3. Agreement on the overall anesthesia plan before surgery began

 

4. Having a guideline checklist for communication streamlining at all points of the operation.