After medical school all anesthesiologists must go through a residency where they might have to work for 24 hours straight for a couple years. . (Webster, Marriam. “Anesthesia”. Webster. New York City: Mcgraw Hill Company, 2005) Some people choose to volunteer at a hospital, helping the surgeons and just getting used to the environment. Most anesthesiologists serve a 12-month rotating internship after graduation and before entering a residency. . (Longnecker, David. Anesthesiology. New York City: Mcgraw Hill Company, 1976) Bls.gov informs all viewers of the page that “Many physicians and surgeons work long, irregular hours.” When applying for a residency you can apply for a residency in a specialty such as surgery, pediatrics, or anesthesiology. You can also have the option for further sub-specialization through a fellowship of one to three years. There are approximately 160 anesthesiology medical residency programs throughout the United States and Canada. During residency training, anesthesiologists work toward getting a certification from the American Society of Anesthesiologists or the American Board of Anesthesiology. ("Anesthesiology". BLS. 3/23/10 <Bls.gov>)
Anesthesiologists are required to do these long residencies because their job is so important and takes a lot of time to get used to the stressful environment. At Stanford University In the first year, residents learn basic anesthesia skills on routine cases under close faculty supervision in the general operating room. Residents then spend about half the year at the Stanford University Packard Children's Hospital complex and the remainder between The Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System and the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. . (Webster, Marriam. “Anesthesia”. Webster. New York City: Mcgraw Hill Company, 2005)
When you get to through residency, then you take on the actual responsibilities of being an anesthesiologist. Anesthesiologists have control over the life of the person who is being operated on. “In general, an anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who cares for a patient before, during and immediately following a surgical or medical procedure by administering appropriate anesthesia and monitoring the patient for reactions and complications, and to ensure comfort and manage pain,” says the Anesthesia Zone. They regulate blood pressure, heart rate, and every other thing while the person is under the knife. The name anesthesiologist comes from the drug anesthesia which puts the patient to sleep for the time of the surgery taking away all pain and making it easier to have a successful operation. . (Longnecker, David. Anesthesiology. New York City: Mcgraw Hill Company, 1976) “Many anesthesiologists have an area that they specialize in. Dr Wade Grindle, for instance, works with cardiac, neurosurgical, obstetrical, major vascular, orthopedic and pediatric surgical subspecialties,” Says Dr. Wade Grindles blog on articlebase.com. Patients trust themselves to an anesthesiologist's care when being asleep so it is important that the anesthesiologist makes the patient feel as comfortable as possible. “Anesthesiologists” . Article Base. 4/1/2010 <http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-crucial-job-of-the-anesthesiologist-2065499.html>.
The anesthesiologist must have a meeting with each patient before the scheduled procedure. This consultation is usually brief, and the anesthesiologist goes over the benefits and risks of the type of sedation that will be used on him or her. At this time, the patient has to sign a permission form allowing the anesthesiologist to put them to sleep. Anesthesiologist must also regulate the medications that the patient retrieves. . (Webster, Marriam. “Anesthesia”. Webster. New York City: Mcgraw Hill Company, 2005) The biggest responsibility is keeping the patient alive because the drugs they use stop breathing, depress cardiac function, and lower blood pressure. With all these affects they must carefully regulate each function and make sure the patient lives through the procedure. Plain and simple anesthesiologists keep you alive and that’s why they are the highest paid professionals in the medical field.
“The career outlook for anesthesiologists is expected to be great,” stated by the people of universitystate.com. It will always be here because the growing population will need more doctors to fulfill their health care needs. The people from mshealthcare believe that “The majority of anesthesiologists work in hospitals and outpatient surgical centers.” They are also the highest paid and most important professionals in the medical field making up to $250,000 a year and having the responsibility of a human life. . (Longnecker, David. Anesthesiology. New York City: Mcgraw Hill Company, 1976) While there are no employment statistics specifically for this specialty, opportunities for physicians will increase 10% - 20% over the next decade according to ms health careers. . (Webster, Marriam. “Anesthesia”. Webster. New York City: Mcgraw Hill Company, 2005) In 2008, physicians practicing primary care had total average annual salary of $186,044, and physicians practicing in medical specialties earned total average annual salary of $339,738, which makes their earnings among the highest of any occupation. . (Longnecker, David. Anesthesiology. New York City: Mcgraw Hill Company, 1976) Anesthesiologists are without a doubt one of if not the most important professionals of any occupation because they take the biggest risks and are the more depended on then any other medical professional because everyday thousands of people put the trust of their life in the hands of an anesthesiologist.
Anesthesiologists don’t only have to be good at what they do but must be good at many other things too. They must be able to gain the patients trust and insure them that they are in good hands. It takes a lot of time, concentration, and dedication to become the highest paid and most respected professional in the medical field. They don’t just let anyone be one because they hold the life of many patients in their hands, and that’s why anesthesiologists are also the most trusted professions in the medical field.
