A Description of Anesthesia Personnel Characteristics in United States Army Medical Treatment Facilities
Abstract
In the United States Army nurse anesthetists have been the primary providers of anesthesia cases in all the wars, conflicts, and peace keeping missions. Yet little has been written about these nurses. The focus of this research study is to describe the role of the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in surgical centers, small, medium, and large medical treatment facilities (MTF) in the United States Army. A descriptive survey tool was designed and mailed to anesthesia departments, at each United States Army MTF. Twenty eight of 33 MTFs returned the surveys; achieving an 85% return rate. The data showed three large MTFs have more anesthesiologists than CRNAs. One of the large MTFs has 18 anesthesiologists and only eight CRNAs. The ratio of anesthesiologists to CRNA for the surgical centers was 0:2 and the small and medium MTFs ratio was 1:2. The large MTFs were found to operate with a very high anesthesiologist to CRNA ratio from 1:1 to 2:1. The data did not show any increase in productivity, as measured by case per provider per year, at the facilities with the higher ratio of anesthesiologists to CRNA. The data showed cases per provider per year was less in the large MTFs compared to those with lower staffing ratios. There is much overlap between the roles of the two providers; In some places they are used interchangeably. Currently the smaller facilities have the most experienced CRNA providers and the least experienced anesthesiologists. The data also shows that the CRNAs remain on active duty in the Army longer than the anesthesiologists. This research provided base line data on the role of anesthesia providers in surgical centers, small, medium and large MTF in the US Army. The data implies that CRNAs function more independently at smaller MTFs in the Army. However, the best mix of providers warrants further investigation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA421186
Entities
People
- Jessetta K. Joswick
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences