Summary The benefits of surveying patient satisfaction with anesthesia care are becoming increasingly evident in a competitive environment of quality reporting in which anesthesia groups can use reports of outstanding service and communication to help demonstrate value to institutions and payers. We offer highlights of a presentation on measur...

Will Latham, MBA President, Latham Consulting Group, Inc., Chattanooga, TNOne would think (or hope) that by the time anesthesiologists complete their training and begin practicing, they have mastered not only their clinical field, but also the ability to work well with others and behave appropriately. If you've spent any time as a member of an anes...

Summary Drug shortages remain a serious problem, and anesthesia providers are particularly vulnerable, with anesthesia drugs often among those in short supply. We offer a glimpse of current trends, advocacy initiatives by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and others, research on causes and potential solutions, and programs at individual ins...

Mark F. Weiss, JD The Mark F. Weiss Law Firm, Dallas, TX, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, CASome inner desire stronger than my willpower beckoned me to stare at them through the glass. I was nine years old. It was both titillating and embarrassing.There were 10 photographs in gritty black and white, arrayed in order behind glass on the post office w...

Summary Though the low-volume threshold for the 2018 Quality Payment Program has been raised, loosening the requirement for participation by anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists, anesthesia groups that continue to report quality data through a Qualified Clinical Data Registry can reap some important benefits. We present the anesthesia qual...