Residency for Anesthesiologist – Overview
Anesthesiology is a medical specialty focused on the comprehensive care of patients before, during, and after surgery, including pain management and critical care.
This is essential to keep patients comfortable and stable during obstetric, surgical or other similar medical procedures.
Anesthesiologists are required to perform pre-surgical evaluations and treat patients. They are trained in pain management, critical care medicine, and the management of respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies.
They can also handle cardiopulmonary resuscitation and manage critically ill or injured patients in intensive care units (ICUs).
What does an Anesthesiologist do?
A physician anesthesiologist is a skilled medical doctor. They are usually required to acquire M.D. or D.O. degrees specializing in anesthesiology.
Anesthesiologists are extensively trained in handling all perioperative medical decisions, ensuring patient safety and comfort before, during, and after surgery.
They are mainly responsible to ensure the well-being and safety of patients previous to, during and after a surgical operation.
This involves administering general anesthesia to induce unconsciousness or regional anesthesia to numb specific areas of the body, depending on the procedure.
Anesthesiologists are also expected to administer sedatives when required for pain relief or to alleviate anxiety.
Administering pain relief is extremely crucial for a successful surgical operation. This is especially true when a critical patient’s life functions must be artificially sustained.
Experienced physician anesthesiologists may lead the Anesthesia Care Team, coordinating care and managing anesthesia services in hospitals.
Anesthesiologists also have several different responsibilities outside the operating room. For instance, they handle pre-operative patient assessment.
It is incredibly important to know the patient’s current health condition in light of the planned surgical procedure.
This helps anesthesiologists to develop the safest and most effective anesthesia plan for the individual patient.
Anesthesiologists are also responsible for caring for the patient’s well-being following the surgery as the effects of anesthesia wear off.
As an anesthesiologist, you will be responsible for managing post-operative acute pain along with cancer pain.
Their responsibilities also include managing chronic pain, providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and overseeing respiratory therapy and blood transfusions.
How to Become an Anesthesiologist?
To pursue a career in anesthesiology, you must first complete a 4-year undergraduate degree, ideally fulfilling pre-medical requirements.
Similar to physicians, you will then be required to get enrolled in a medical school following your undergraduate education.
After medical school, you must complete a residency in anesthesiology, which typically includes one year of a clinical base year followed by three years focused on anesthesiology.
After completing an anesthesiology residency program, you can pursue board certification by passing the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) exam.
The majority of anesthesiologists practicing in the US are certified by the board.
In essence, you will need to complete a minimum of 8 years of training after college. After you complete the residency program, most anesthesiologists choose to complete an extra fellowship year of specialty training.
This specialty training may include practicing in specific areas, including cardiac anesthesia, pain management, and obstetric anesthesia.
The training also includes pediatric anesthesia, critical care medicine and neuroanesthesia.
Apart from this, anesthesiologists also acquire certification in a sub-specialty such as Hospice and Palliative Medicine. This requires additional training and appearing for exams.
What kind of training is required to become an Anesthesiologist?
To become an anesthesiologist, you must have at least four years of graduate medical education.
After the clinical base year, you will complete three years of specialized anesthesiology training, including training for a year within the clinical base year.
This provides resident anesthesiologists with around 12 months of wide clinical education in medical fields. Out of this, a maximum of one month should involve practicing to administer anesthesia.
The clinical base year is normally the first year of graduate medical studies.
How much does an Anesthesiologist earn?
According to BLS, the average salary for anesthesiologists in the US is around $339,470 per year.
Anesthesiology is one of the most lucrative fields in medical practice.
Conclusion
Ensure you choose an accredited and reputed medical school to complete your four-year medical education.
Apart from this, appear for the ABA board certification exam when you are prepared. This way, you can become a successful and efficient anesthesiologist.
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