[Positive Effect of an Anesthesia Preoperative Evaluation Clinic in a Small Hospital].

BACKGROUND

We investigated the effect of an anesthetic clinic in a small hospital, with only two anesthesiologists, on operation unit activities and labor burden of the anesthesiologists.

METHODS

The number of outpatients visiting the anesthetic clinic during the six month after opening of the clinic was evaluated. The doctor's fee and the number of operations under our anesthetic management were also analyzed. The total time of anesthesiologist's overtime work was compared with that of the corresponding period of the past year.

RESULTS

241 cases (48%) among 502 elective anesthesia cases were examined at the clinic, and 65% of them visited before admission for the surgery and paid for doctor's examination. Although the number of anesthesiologists working at operating rooms decreased 8% after opening of the clinic, the number of operations under the anesthetic management increased 6% compared to the corresponding period of the past year. The overtime work of anesthesiologists decreased drastically probably due to increased efficiency of the operative anesthetic labor resulting from the reduction of anesthesiologist's preoperative duties at bedside.

CONCLUSIONS

Establishment of an anesthetic clinic had a positive effect on both hospital-management and anesthesiologist-labor even in a small hospital with a few anesthesiologists.