Ensuring Excellence in Anesthesiology in Today’s Challenging Environment

As TeamHealth’s chief clinical officer for Anesthesiology, Dr. Mesrobian brings more than 20 years of experience to his work with facility medical directors and hospital/health system leaders to ensure the achievement of important clinical quality and patient safety performance metrics. Here, he shares his insights into the challenges facing anesthesiology practices confronting the impact of COVID-19 on hospital operations.

JM: Today, there is no such thing as “over communication.” Both corporate and practice leadership have to inform and update their clinicians frequently, especially about clinical and operational issues. We also need to recognize that many clinicians still have some degree of COVID-19 fatigue, simply residual stress from the pandemic’s initial onset. As the prevalence of COVID-19 is rising again in many communities, it is critical to show our clinicians that their physical and psychological well-being is our top priority.

JM: A return to a new normal, however that is defined, is going to take place over months and possibly years. It is likely that many of the practices adopted during the initial stages of the pandemic, such as use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and patient screening/testing, will remain as part of our clinical operations. We need to adapt rapidly to new processes and technologies, such as telemedicine, that traditionally have not been part of an anesthesiologist’s toolkit but have enormous potential to create efficiency and improve patient experience during the preoperative and postoperative periods.

JM: By being flexible and adaptable regarding patient care. At the beginning of the pandemic, anesthesiologists and anesthetists transitioned quickly to the front lines of COVID-19 patient care, including creation of airway/proning teams, critical care services and ventilator management. Anesthesiology clinicians have a unique skill set that is well-positioned to support hospital growth not just in surgical services but also in patient safety, operating efficiency and patient experience.

JM: High-performing anesthesiology practices can think about their value in four primary buckets: clinical quality, clinical operations, patient experience and facility leadership. For example, the development of clinical care paths that improve the patient experience and reduce perioperative costs should be part of every practice purpose. Identification of staffing inefficiencies and working with the facility to reduce unnecessary cost and waste, especially within surgical services, is critical. Leadership, probably more than anything, is critical. At TeamHealth, we devote significant resources to mentorship and leadership training for our site leaders, as they are the linchpin of our communications with clients, clinicians and patients. Having a capable clinical leader onsite contributes to our value delivery as much as any other factor.

JM: One phrase I use a lot is “Define reality and say thank you.” Our clinicians want to know that leaders understand their concerns and communicate a vision and strategy for anesthesiology services that are patient-focused, improve outcomes and are cost-effective. Telling stories is a great way to say “thank you” to your clinicians. We have so many instances of great patient care that need to have a light shown upon them. Lastly, don’t be afraid to share something personal or light-hearted with your clinicians – a photo of your dog, a quick story about your family – that demonstrates understanding, empathy and even a bit of humor.
 

To learn more, please visit www.teamhealth.com.