Equipment used in this 1894 nitrous oxide anesthetic administered by Dr. J.H. Branson at the National Homeopathic Hospital in Washington was most likely serviced (if at all) by the user, While there was no “modem” equipment or technique, at least the O.R. furniture was more stylish than today’s.
Video on Safety and Costs Available Free
A new video production which addresses the issue of improving patient safety within an environment of cost containment is now available from the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation.
This 30-minute videotape entitled “Safety and Cost in Anesthesia,” presents the scope, costs and implications of adverse outcomes, and proposes potential solutions for risk reduction through the coordinated actions of all parties involved in the quest for improved anesthesia safety.
The program is based primarily on presentations delivered at a February 1987 workshop on Anesthesia Safety and Cost Containment held in Gainesville, Florida, which was co-sponsored by the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation and the University of Florida College of Medicine.
Speakers and attendees represented at the workshop included anesthesiologists, hospital administrators, quality assurance managers, insurance officials, manufacturing executives, lawyers and a training director from the airline industry.
VHS-format copies of the video program are available at no charge from the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation. Please write to the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, 51 5 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068. The APSF acknowledges Dr. I.S. Gravenstein of the University of Florida College of Medicine for his participation in the development of this program, and Ohmeda for video Production and funding.
The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Newsletter is the official publication of the nonprofit Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation and is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December at Overland Park, Kansas. Annual membership: Individual $25.00, Corporate $500.00. This and any additional contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible. @Copyright, Anesthesia Patent Safety Foundation, 1988.
The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation or its members or board of directors.
APSF Executive Committee:
Ellison C. Pierce, Jr., M.D., President; W. Dekle Rountree, Jr., Vice-President; E.S. Siker, M.D., Secretary; Burton A. Dole, Jr., Treasurer; Jeffrey B. Cooper, Ph.D.; Joachim S. Gavenstein, M.D.; James E Holzer, J.D.
Newsletter Editorial Board:
John H. Eichhorn, M.D., Stanley 1. Aukburg, M.D., Jeffrey M. Beutler, C.R.N.A., M.S., Ralph A. Epstein, M.D., David E. Lees, M.D., Bernard V. Wetchler, M.D., Mr. Mark D. Wood
Address all general, membership, and subscription correspondence to: Administrator
Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation 515 Busse Highway
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Address Newsletter editorial comments, questions, letters, and suggestions to: John H. Eichhorn, M.D.
Editor, APSF Newsletter; Dept. Anesthesia Beth Israel Hospital, DA-717 Boston, MA 02 2 1 5