What kind of Physician is an Anesthesiologist?

An anesthesiologist is a physician who takes care of a patient before, during and immediately after a surgical or medical procedure, by administering appropriate anesthesia, monitoring the patient for reactions and complications, and ensuring that the patient is comfortable and not in pain.¹

The anesthesiologist also diagnoses and treats acute, chronic and/or cancer pain as well as providing resuscitation and medical management for patients with critical illnesses and severe injuries.²

What special training is required for a doctor to become Board Certified in the Specialty of Anesthesiologist?

It takes at least eight years of training to become a Board-Certified Anesthesiologist. After graduating from medical school, an anesthesiologist must spend one year in an internship and three more years in an anesthesiology residency program. There are approximately 160 anesthesiology medical residency programs in the United States and Canada.

To become Board Certified, the anesthesiologist must pass the certification examination from the American Board of Anesthesiology.³

An anesthesiologist who is certified may also choose to become certified in one or more anesthesiology sub-specialties. These year-long programs qualify the doctor to become certified in Critical Care Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Pain Medicine, Pediatric Anesthesiology or Sleep Medicine.

What kind of Treatment does an Anesthesiologist provide?

Typically, an anesthesiologist will meet with a surgical or obstetric patient before the procedure, to evaluate the patient’s condition. He will take a medical history, and help the patient understand what to expect during surgery. While the procedure is going on, the anesthesiologist is responsible for monitoring the patient’s vital signs and comfort, and adjusting the anesthetic medication accordingly. After the procedure, the anesthesiologist continues to monitor the patient’s vital signs, and may also be involved in management of pain.⁴

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¹ Anesthesiologist Information, http://www.anesthesiazone.com/anesthesiologist-information.aspx
² American Board of Anesthesiology, http://www.certificationmatters.org/abms-member-boards/anesthesiology.aspx
³ Ibid.
⁴ Anesthesiologist Information, http://www.anesthesiazone.com/anesthesiologist-information.aspx