This is a required one-month rotation for CA-1 residents. It is based in the George Washington University Hospital (GWUH) Preoperative Anesthesia Testing (PAT) Unit. Residents will meet with and evaluate those patients coming into the PAT Unit, and will help coordinate the preoperative evaluations for patients scheduled for surgery at GWUH. Additionally inpatient “add on” cases to the Operating Room schedule will be evaluated.
Appropriate screening and evaluation of the surgical patient prior to the day of surgery has been shown to reduce perioperative morbidity and decrease surgical delays and cancellations. The skills required to effectively accomplish this task will be acquired through meetings with patients, working with the PAT nursing staff, and reviewing preoperative charts all under the supervision of Anesthesiology faculty. A syllabus of required reading will be provided that will enhance medical knowledge of the subject.