Monday, October 5
Anesthesiologists must step out and step up to leadNow is time for anesthesiologists to lead the way to gender equity and patient safety. Not despite all of the disruptions that have occurred in 2020, but because of them. “The pandemic is an example of what broad disruption looks like. It has changed our lives,” said Joanne M. Conroy, MD, President and CEO of Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, during yesterday’s Rovenstine Lecture. Read More
Reducing the risk of neurocognitive disorders associated with postoperative complicationsIn yesterday’s John W. Severinghaus Lecture on Translational Science, Beverley Orser, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FRSC, of the University of Toronto, encouraged anesthesiologists to reset their sights on long-term outcomes. It’s her answer to the question of how we, as anesthesiologists, can achieve our full potential. Read More
Welcome to Day 4 of ANESTHESIOLOGY 2020It’s the last day of ANESTHESIOLOGY 2020, but a full day of educational panels, Corporate Partner sessions, networking, and governance activities awaits you. Read More
Correctly identify toxicology prior to treatmentUp to 40% of patients presenting to the emergency department may have an intoxication, but they’re not always easy to recognize. It’s important for anesthesiologists to know that there are really very few intoxications that have classic toxidromes, said Robert W. Gould, MD, Chief of Critical Care Anesthesiology and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Read More
Choosing Wisely builds momentumThe Choosing Wisely campaign continues to bring improvements to health care and even shape today’s medical students who will carry out the campaign’s mission well into the future. The state of the global initiative, now eight years strong, was the focus of the Sunday session “Choosing Wisely in 2020: A Global Perspective.” Read More
Advancing clinical trial know-howNews of clinical trials has captured the attention of the general public for months, as COVID-19 vaccines advance at record pace. That same thirst for knowledge is expected to captivate seasoned clinicians attending the annual meeting who already have a moderate to advanced understanding of clinical trials in anesthesiology. Read More
Global efforts aim to end preventable maternal deathProtecting maternal health is a priority of health care providers worldwide. Despite that, maternal morbidity and mortality rates are on the rise, even in the United States. Rachel M. Kacmar, MD, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, will address this health crisis during Monday’s session “Maternal Morbidity and Mortality: An Anesthesiologist’s Role and Perspective.” Read More
Keep the conversation going in the new ASA CommunityWe hope you agree that ANESTHESIOLOGY 2020 offered more ways to converse with more colleagues than any meeting before it. We’re pleased to inform you that you can extend those conversations, and much more, with our new ASA Community – an easy-to-use networking tool where you can tap into the collective knowledge of our 50,000-plus membership. Read More
Anesthesiologists reevaluate risk reductionPerioperative infections are always a concern for anesthesiologists. Now, in the presence of COVID-19, even more effort and energy are being directed at this topic as anesthesiologists lead multidisciplinary initiatives to prevent hospital-acquired infections (HAI) by PPE, hand sanitation, and OR procedures. Read More
Sunday, October 4
COVID-19 updates from the NIHNIH Director Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, said in yesterday’s opening session that he’s got a “smorgasbord of issues” he’s been wanting to discuss with anesthesiologists. In what he dubbed a “romp through the NIH,” Dr. Collins walked the audience through NIH biomedical research updates in categories that included advancing neurotechnology, the opioid crisis, the need for a more diverse and innovative research workforce, and COVID-19. Read More
Welcome to Day 3 of ANESTHESIOLOGY 2020Don’t miss the Rovenstine Lecture at 9 a.m. CT, when Dartmouth-Hitchcock President and CEO Joanne M. Conroy, MD, discusses “Vitals Signs: Transforming 21st Century Anesthesia Practice.” Dr. Conroy was named one of the 50 most influential clinical executives in 2020 by Modern Healthcare magazine. Read More
Closed claims analysis: Emerging trends in pain managementBefore 2005, there wasn’t a lot of data related to chronic pain medication management. However, with an increasing focus on ASA Closed Claims Analysis, anesthesiologists can see inherent risks and take steps to avoid liability. Read More
Anesthesiology’s role in stroke careAnesthesiologists can play a critical role in assessing and reducing the risk of perioperative and acute ischemic stroke in non-cardiac surgery patients through careful screening, managing antithrombotic therapy and even scheduling optimal timing for elective surgery. Those considerations as well as keeping the anesthesiologist safe during the pandemic were the focus of Saturday’s session, “Stroke and the Anesthesiologist: What’s New?” Read More
The best in breaking scienceIn a health care environment where practitioners are asked to be efficient and proficient in many clinical scenarios, it’s almost impossible for them to keep up on the latest breaking science. Saturday’s “Our 10 Favorite Papers of the Year: How Will They Affect Your Practice?” put some of the best papers front-and-center for anesthesiologists. Read More
How are we doing? Please share your annual meeting experiencesIt’s day 3 of the meeting, and we want to know what you think so far. More than anything, it is your experience that matters. Read More
Achieving diversity and inclusion in anesthesiology departments: Whose responsibility is it?Achieving racial, ethnic, and gender diversity and inclusion has been an elusive pursuit in medicine. Defining who is ultimately responsible for developing and implementing a plan that ensures an equal opportunity for everyone could be the key to success. But who should take the lead? Read More
ASA brain initiative offers key resourcesThink a little brain fogginess might be something more? ASA’s Perioperative Brain Health Initiative (PBHI) is leading the charge to equip anesthesiologists with the tools they need to effectively screen and care for patients at risk for pre- and postoperative neurocognitive decline. Read More
Saturday, October 3
Surgeon General calls for physicians to uniteSARS-CoV-2 has shaken us to our core. Now is the time to put politics aside, reflect on the gravity of the moment, and unite against our common enemy, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, FASA, told anesthesiologists during Friday’s Welcome Session, the official kick off of ANESTHESIOLOGY 2020. Read More
Welcome to Day 2 of the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2020 annual meetingThis morning’s Opening Session/Keynote Address at 9 a.m. CT is Saturday’s don’t-miss event! 2020 ASA President Mary Dale Peterson, MD, MHA, FACHE, FASA, opens the session with a recap of what will surely be remembered as one of the most challenging years in the specialty’s history. But there were just as many positives – 2020 was the best Match year ever for anesthesiology. Read More
MasterClass spotlights the role of compassion in medicineTime. That is the No. 1 reason physicians report not always making a human connection with patients—and 56% of them reported that they don’t even have the time it takes to show compassion, according to Jake Poore, President and Chief Experience Officer of Integrated Loyalty Systems Inc. in Orlando. Read More
2 quick tips to enhance your virtual annual meeting experienceWe hope you’re enjoying the meeting so far and that you’re finding the interface to be intuitive and enjoyable. If you haven’t done so already, there are two very simple actions you can take to make sure your schedule and agenda are fully maximized. Read More
COVID: Advice from the frontlinesWhen COVID-19 numbers spiked in New York City last spring, it was bigger than anything doctors there had ever seen before. It demanded ingenuity and the ability to adapt and skillfully steer through a learning curve at record speed. Doctors are still trying to process mentally, physically, and logistically everything that has happened since then, but are ready to share some of what they learned on the frontlines. Read More
Professional health programs provide chronic disease treatmentThe current pandemic and resulting health care climate have wrought enormous amounts of stress on physicians—and sometimes, this spirals out of control, leading to substance abuse. Read More
COVID-19 tops APSF’s Top 10COVID-19 has affected every conceivable facet of the heath care industry, but few have been affected more than anesthesiology. This fact informs one of the key “lessons learned” that will be featured during the Saturday session “Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Panel: Ten Patient Safety Issues We’ve Learned from the COVID Pandemic.” Read More
FAER-Helrich Research Lecture: Why Is Pain Such a Tough Nut to Crack?Tony Yaksh, PhD, MS, Professor and Vice Chair of Research at the University of California, San Diego, explores this pain conundrum when he delivers today’s “FAER-Helrich Research Lecture: Why Is Pain Such a Tough Nut to Crack?: A Mechanistic Perspective on Our Emphasis upon Neuraxial Processing.” Read More
Anesthesiologists mean businessBeing a successful anesthesiologist goes beyond just being a good doctor. It’s also about being good at business. The ability to follow and even predict business trends, keep up with the compensation structures for various care team models, and analyze billing metrics to optimize financial outcomes represent a fraction of the business acumen anesthesiologists must possess to be successful in their practice. Read More
Pandemic push for innovationIf ever there were a time to ensure timely and safe access to ventilators, it’s now. That’s behind the longstanding engagement of the FDA Centers for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) and members of the Society for Technology in Anesthesia (STA). These collaborations that began long before COVID-19 provided a foundation for rapid response to the pandemic. Read More
Friday, October 2
ANESTHESIOLOGY 2020 launches todayThis year, the largest educational and scientific meeting in the specialty has been re-envisioned to fit onto your laptop or mobile device. We’ve been working non-stop to make your virtual experience as efficient and enjoyable as possible. Read More
More opportunities than ever before to engage with corporate partnersLike many other aspects of ANESTHESIOLOGY 2020, the exhibitor activities planned for this year will be unlike any other—not just because they are all virtual, but because they offer more opportunity for engagement than any meeting before it. Read More
Pierce Lecture: ‘Is Safety Becoming the Poor Stepchild of Quality?’According to 2020 Pierce Lecturer Matthew B. Weinger, MD, MS, patient safety is being threatened by competing pressures within health care to deliver more and better care at lower cost. Read More
Physician anesthesiologists are Made for this MomentAs physician anesthesiologists, you make a difference in the moments that matter most to your patients. This is more evident than ever as the country battles an unprecedented pandemic—and you have been leaders, innovators, and lifesavers. And just as you were made for this moment, you are made for the ones that happen every day as you safeguard patients and advocate for quality care. Read More
Medical students prep for transitionThe transition from medical school to a residency in anesthesiology is a well-deserved honor. But it comes with a number of future considerations, from ranking residency programs to student loans. Saturday’s Medical Student Program explores a wide spectrum of decision-making. Read More
Reducing neurocognitive complications after cardiac surgeryPostoperative delirium and cognitive decline following heart surgery are valid concerns among patients and physicians alike. Efforts to reduce postoperative neurocognitive complications, which include preoperative screening for risk factors and leveraging optimal anesthetic techniques, may reduce postoperative mortality, shorten hospital stays, and decrease the need for long-term care. Read More
Don’t miss the Journal-sponsored sessions at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2020As in previous years, Anesthesiology is sponsoring several sessions during ANESTHESIOLOGY 2020. Take advantage of this outstanding opportunity to join Anesthesiology for all the great content planned. Read More
Prevent perioperative outcomes from going up in smokeSmoking and vaping come with a long list of warnings. Among them, the not-so-secret increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer. But it’s the surgical risks that should concern anesthesiologists, who are obligated to encourage patients to quit smoking or vaping before surgery. Read More