Pediatric Anesthesiology
What kind of Physician is a Pediatric 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
A pediatric anesthesiologist evaluates, prepares, and manages children undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in operative and critical care settings. In addition, a pediatric anesthesiologist is involved in the evaluation and treatment of children with acute and chronic painful disorders.2
What special training is required for a doctor to become Board Certified in the Specialty of Pediatric Anesthesiologist?
To first become a Board-Certified Anesthesiologist a doctor must spend one year in an internship and three more years in an anesthesiology residency program after graduating from medical school. 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
A certified anesthesiologist may then choose to become a pediatric anesthesiologist by completing a one-year fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology, and taking the certification examination for that sub-speciality.
What kind of treatment does a pediatric anesthesiologist provide?
Pediatric anesthesiologists specialize in caring for children, toddlers, teenagers and young adults under age 21. Typically, these doctors work with family physicians, pediatricians and surgical staff to manage a young patient’s care.
A pediatric anesthesiologist is responsible for explaining the pain relief options and treatments that are planned to patients and their parents before, during and after surgery. During surgery, the pediatric anesthesiologist will constantly assess a patient’s vital signs and appropriately administer medication, to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible, and to aid in the child’s recovery.4
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1 Anesthesiologist Information, http://www.anesthesiazone.com/anesthesiologist-information.aspx
2 American Board of Anesthesiology, http://www.theaba.org/Home/examinations_certifications
3 Ibid.
4 “Pediatric Anesthesiologist: Salary, Career and Education Info,” http://education-portal.com/articles/Pediatric_Anesthesiologist_Salary_Career_and_Education_Info.html