Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant

Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant

A certified anesthesiologist assistant (CAA) performs a clinical role in providing pain management and anesthesia care. The CAA is a credentialed position and receives clinical supervision from an appropriately credentialed anesthesiologist.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Obtain a comprehensive patient history, perform relevant elements of a physical examination, and present the history to the supervising anesthesiologist
• Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and obtain and interpret information from the systems and monitors, in consultation with an anesthesiologist
• Assist the supervising anesthesiologist with the implementation of medically accepted monitoring techniques
• Establish basic and advanced airway interventions, including intubation of the trachea and performing ventilator support
• Administer intermittent vasoactive drugs and start and adjust vasoactive infusions
• Administer anesthetic drugs, adjuvant drugs, and accessory drugs, including narcotics
• Assist the supervising anesthesiologist with the performance of epidural anesthetic procedures, spinal anesthetic procedures, and other regional anesthetic techniques
• Administer blood, blood products, and supportive fluids
• Provide assistance to a cardiopulmonary resuscitation team in response to a life-threatening situation
• Monitor, transport, and transfer care to appropriate anesthesia or recovery personnel
• Participate in administrative, research, and clinical teaching activities, as authorized by the supervising anesthesiologist, and
• Perform such other tasks the anesthesiologist assistant has been trained and is proficient to perform

Privileges not permitted:

• Prescribe any medications or controlled substances.
• Practice or attempt to practice unless under the supervision of an anesthesiologist who is immediately available for consultation, assistance, and intervention.
• Practice or attempt to administer anesthesia during the induction or emergence phase without the personal participation of the supervising anesthesiologist.
• Administer any drugs, medication, devices, or therapies the supervising anesthesiologist is not qualified or authorized to prescribe

In an emergency situation, the CAA may render emergency medical services necessary to avoid morbidity or mortality of the critically ill patient until a physician arrives. Such emergencies require the practitioner to obtain supervision as soon as possible from a physician.

Minimum qualifications include:

• Graduation from an Anesthesiologist Assistant program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs
• Current and valid license to practice in Washington, D.C.
• Anesthesiologist Assistant accreditation and certification through the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA)
• A minimum of 1 year of prior Anesthesiologist Assistant experience post-graduation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information

Physical requirements include:

• Sit, walk, bend, and reach for long periods of time in a clinical setting
• Must be able to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull up to 20 lbs. as part of the role
• Regularly exposed to healthcare settings that may require personal protective equipment
• Requires manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, calculator, copier machine, and other equipment

About GW MFA:

MFA physicians provide comprehensive patient care, offering one practice for the whole person with 52 medical and surgical specialties. As members of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences faculty, MFA providers are teachers and mentors for medical students, residents, fellows, and researchers preserving the rich tradition of academics, research, and healing. In addition to maintaining a closely integrated alliance with The George Washington University and The George Washington University Hospital (GWUH), separately owned and operated by Universal Health Services (UHS), the GW MFA has active referring relationships with 12 area hospitals.

The GW MFA's leading healthcare presence in the DC metro region is complemented by a network of community-based practices in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Given its geographic location in central NW Washington, DC, and proximity to more than 175 resident embassies, the MFA continues to evolve its international clinical outreach.

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