Senate Concurrent ResolutionNo. 4


Introduced by Senator Pan

January 6, 2015


Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4—Relative to Physician Anesthesiologist Week.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 4, as introduced, Pan. Physician Anesthesiologist Week.

This measure would designate the week of January 11 to January 17, 2015, as Physician Anesthesiologist Week.

Fiscal committee: no.

P1    1WHEREAS, Annually in the United States, more than 100
2million operations and procedures are performed with anesthesia
3and physician anesthesiologists play a critical role in a patient’s
4well-being before, during, and after surgical procedures and make
5patient safety their top priority; and

6WHEREAS, Physician anesthesiologists have the highest levels
7of training and must complete between 12,000 and 16,000 hours
8of training prior to practicing independently; and

9WHEREAS, Physician anesthesiologists have been leaders in
10patient safety and cited as the only medical specialty to have
11significantly improved patient safety; and

12WHEREAS, A physician anesthesiologist’s duties include
13evaluating a patient’s current health prior to receiving anesthesia
14to ensure the best outcome, administering anesthesia, monitoring
15the patient during surgery, and assessing the patient after the
16procedure is completed; and

17WHEREAS, This spectrum of patient care constitutes the
18perioperative surgical home. The American Society of
P2    1Anesthesiologists has identified the perioperative surgical home
2as an innovative model in patient care where the physician
3anesthesiologist directs the anesthesia care team to provide support
4to the patient throughout all aspects of surgical care and procedures;
5and

6WHEREAS, There is up to a 20 percent reduction in adverse
7events when physician anesthesiologists lead the anesthesia care
8team; and

9WHEREAS, The American Medical Association completed a
10public opinion survey that concluded 70 percent of patients want
11a physician to administer and monitor anesthesia levels; and

12WHEREAS, Anesthesia is safer than ever before, yet there
13remains potential for complications and side effects during
14procedures, and physician anesthesiologists have the training and
15expertise to help minimize these risks, monitor for any problems,
16and take quick action; and

17WHEREAS, During surgeries or procedures, when seconds
18count, physician anesthesiologists have the highest degree of
19training to respond to emergencies and ensure the best patient
20outcomes; and

21WHEREAS, The California Society of Anesthesiologists is a
22physician organization with over 3,000 members dedicated to
23promoting the highest standards of the profession of
24anesthesiology, fostering excellence through continuing medical
25education, and serving as an advocate for anesthesiologists and
26their patients; now, therefore, be it

27Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
28thereof concurring,
That the Legislature hereby designates the
29week of January 11 to January 17, 2015, inclusive, as Physician
30Anesthesiologist Week; and be it further

31Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
32this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.



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