Senior Specialist - Anesthesia

Purpose and Scope of the Job

Specialist Anesthesiologists are responsible to examine patient, obtain
medical history and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical,
obstetrical, and other medical procedures. Administer anesthetic or sedation
during medical procedures, using various methods, monitor patient and
counteract adverse reactions or complications, conduct medical research,
coordinate and direct work of nurses, medical technicians and other health
care providers.

Main Duties and Responsibilities/Performance Standards

‎1

Responsible for providing anesthesia care to elective as well as emergency
cases.

‎2

Ensure implementation of the Ministry of Health regulations, the hospital.
Medical Staff By laws, Rules and Regulations and the Anesthesia Department
Policy and Guidelines

‎3

Follows the standard concepts, practices, and procedures within the field of
Anesthesia

‎4

Exhibit appropriate personal and interpersonal professional behaviors and
practice medicine ethically consistent with the obligations of a physician

‎5

Cooperate with other members in Anesthesia Department to work in a team
directed and organized by the Head of the Department

‎6

Consider the patient's safety as the first priority in his work

‎7

Periodically review his personal and professional performance against national
standards set for the specialty

‎8

Include the patient in discussions concerning appropriate diagnostic and
management procedures

‎9

Respect the opinions of fellow specialists, consultants and referring
physicians in the management of patient problems and be willing to provide
means whereby differences of opinion can be discussed and resolved

‎10

Show recognition of limits of personal skill and knowledge by appropriately
consulting other physicians when caring for the patient

‎11

Show a pattern of maintaining current personal clinical skill and knowledge
through continuing medical education

‎12

Attend the meetings of the Anesthesia Department to discuss the rules and
regulations, obstacles to work, incidents and complications encountered and
suggestions to improve the quality of service. Scientific presentations and
refresher course lectures, whenever possible, are to be a part of the meeting

‎13

Participate in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care
needs

‎14

Share in organizational performance improvement activities

‎15

Participate in continuous quality improvement programs for anesthesia service

‎16

The on-call anesthesiologists are responsible for covering the calls for ‎24
hours

‎17

Duties of the on-call anesthesiologist include:
* Anesthetic management for emergency and elective cases. Epidural analgesia for labor and delivery.
* Preoperative check-up for patients admitted the night before surgery and those referred by surgeons for check-up before booking/scheduling.
* Covering calls from ER, ICU and other areas of the hospital for conditions related anesthesia service or resuscitation.
* Sharing in transportation, to other hospitals, of critically-ill patients liable to need cardiopulmonary resuscitation or mechanical ventilation during transportation

‎18

The specialist shall be aware of his limitations. Specialist
cover/consultation is required in cases of:
* Neonates, infants and children under the age of ‎12 years with ASA status more than ‎3 or with uncontrolled medical problems undergoing major operations under general anesthesia.
* Patients older than ‎70 years with ASA status more than ‎3 undergoing major operations under general anesthesia.
* When technical difficulties are encountered

‎19

Specific anesthesia service is the responsibility of the anesthesiologist
assigned to give care to a certain patient. It covers the preoperative, the
intra- operative and the postoperative period in the recovery area until
discharge to the ward.
Preoperative check-up:
* Anesthesiologist shall be responsible for determining the medical status of the patient, developing a plan of anesthesia care and informing the patient or the responsible adult with the proposed plan.
The development of an appropriate plan of anesthesia care is based upon:
* Reviewing the medical record.
Interviewing and examining the patient to:
* Discuss the medical history, previous anesthetic experiences and drug therapy.
* Assess the possibility of a difficult endotracheal intubation.
* Assess those aspects of the physical condition that might affect decisions regarding peri-operative risk and management.
* Obtaining and/or reviewing tests and consultations necessary to the conduct of anesthesia.
* Determining the appropriate prescription of preoperative medications as necessary to the conduct of anesthesia. The responsible anesthesiologist shall verify that the above has been properly performed and documented in the patient's record

‎20

Intra-operative period:
* Positions patient safely on operating table.
* Uses the appropriate monitors before, during, and after anesthesia
* to evaluate oxygenation, ventilation and cardiovascular system.
* Basic monitoring includes ECG, BP, inspired oxygen concentration, peripheral oxygen saturation (oximetry) and end- tidal carbon dioxide (capnography).
* The anesthesiologist shall be present in the OR throughout the conduct of anesthesia.
* Administers local, intravenous, inhalational, spinal, epidural, caudal, or other anesthetic or sedative according to prescribed medical standards.
* Uses mechanical ventilation appropriately when required and adjusts the ventilator settings according to the patient's needs.
* Institutes remedial measures to counteract adverse reactions or complications.
* Administers intravenous fluids (crystalloids, colloids) as required.
* Estimates blood loss and transfuses blood (blood products) if required.
* Records timing, type and amount of anesthetics, sedatives, muscle relaxants and other drugs administered, IV fluids, blood loss and blood given, airway device used and ventilator settings, hemodynamic and ventilatory changes, events and complications encountered and condition of patient on leaving OR.

‎21

Post-operative period:
* Attends and supervises transporting the patient safely to the Recovery Room (Post Anesthesia Care Unit = PACU).
* Orders analgesics as required and manages any possible complications in the Recovery Room until discharge to the ward

‎22

Answer calls from the wards regarding conditions related to anesthetic care
given to the patient

‎23

Accept all other additional assignments found necessary by the Head of
Department

Qualifications, Competences and Skills

Education

Royal College/Fellowship/Membership

Experience

Minimum ‎3 years post PhD /Fellowship/Membership experience in relevant
specialty

Licensure

Valid Kuwait License

Language

Well versed in English & Arabic

Computer Proficiency

Good computer skills

Performance Competencies

‎1

Good communication skills

‎2

Knowledge of Required Organizational practices

‎3

Command over professional code of ethics , medical bylaws

‎4

Knowledge of evidence based Age specific/ Population specific patient care
clinical guidelines accepted by the hospital

‎5

Culturally competent ( Kuwaiti patients' culture and beliefs)

‎6

AHA certified Basic Life support provider

‎7

AHA certified Advance Cardiac Life support provider

Patient Safety :

‎1

Ensures quality and patient safety practices are followed. (Note:
Accreditation requirement)

‎2

Provides or promotes patient and family-centered care. (Note: Accreditation
requirement)

‎3

Promotes inclusive health by providing equitable and accessible care to
patients and families with special needs. ( Note : Special needs project
requirement)

Principle Working Relationships and Remarks

‎1

Medical Administrative staff, Peers, Nurses, Clinical Ancillary staff,
Customer service staff and Secretaries.