GUIDELINES FOR SEDATION BY NONANESTHESIOLOGISTS DURING DIAGNOSTIC ANDTHERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES

The increasing use of sedation to enhance patient comfort during diagn ostic and therapeutic procedues have been noted by the Joint commissio n of Accredited Healthcare Organizations, specialty societies, and the public. Although anesthesiologists, by virtue of training and experie nce, possess unique qualifications to provide such sedation services, their availability remains somewhat limited by primary commitments to the operating room, intensive care unit, or pain service. The Risk Man agement Committee of the Department of Anaesthesia of Harvard Medical School has made specific recommendations to the Harvard-affiliated hos pitals for anesthesiologists who participate in institutional-level co mmittees in setting guidelines for such services when they are provide d by nonanesthesiologists. Specific consideration is given to faciliti es, backup emergency services, equipment, education and training, issu es of informed consent, documentation, and release of patients from me dical care. These recommendations emphasize the collaboration of the d epartment of anesthesia and other departments that provide sedation se rvices in formulating policies and procedures that reflect values intr insic to practice of anesthesiology.