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Introduction: The most effective method of introducing new anesthesia machines into the operating room has not been thoroughly investigated, despite recent and dramatic increases in their complexity. The Committee on Technology of the APSF recently conducted a pilot observational study of an extensive mandated technology training program at a major University, prior to the installation of such equipment. The effort was conducted to address the commonly recognized lack of adequate safety training prior to such installations, as initially highlighted by Dr. Cox in the Winter 2004/2005 APSF Newsletter. The training program consisted of four components, and demonstrated widely variable completion rates among SRNAs, Residents, CRNAs, and Faculty, secondary to the relative intensity of the mandate to complete such training. High levels of completion were accomplished by all groups in the hands-on workshop subcomponent, however, and the overwhelming majority of participants indicated that mandatory technology training was valuable and should be promoted by APSF efforts. Details of the study were recently reported in the Fall issue of the APSF Newsletter, and stimulated numerous calls to launch an APSF-sponsored initiative on technology training.
Intentions: Following the above report on technology training, the APSF met with one of its Corporate Sponsors, and agreed upon the following objectives:
- Produce a plan for a multi-center, multi-company demonstration of effective training for modern anesthesia machines
- Develop additional research to provide hard, measurable data that justifies training and includes:
- Protocol development
- Concept validation
- Publication of results
Consistent with these objectives, the Committee on Technology has also begun work to promote and support an ASA Practice Alert recommendation from the ASA Committee on Equipment and Facilities, entitled, Safe Operation of the Anesthesia Workstation, which includes language that anesthesia providers receive institutionally approved training, and demonstrate competence, prior to using such machines. The APSF, in its current technology training initiative, will work with Industry to further refine the type of training that is best suited for widespread implementation, and will determine the best outcomes measurements to show that training is practical and beneficial in promoting patient safety. With adequate data collection and results, the APSF could host a Board of Directors retreat next October, to report their findings and to make further recommendations.
APSF Project Leader: Contact Dr. Michael A. Olympio, Chair, Committee on Technology, at Olympio@apsf.org for more information.
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