Anesthesiology, and indeed all of US health care, is influenced currently by two dominant trends. First, the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010 codified the US commitment to broad-based access to health care, and it underscored that such care must be more efficient and cost effective. Second, the emphasis on quality and safety in health care has gained even greater momentum. Together, these trends emphasize the concept of value in health care. These trends are not unique to the United States. Rather, they represent global trends in health care policy and practice. We believe they will be dominant themes for many years to come and thus they are guiding principles in the second edition of this text.
Fortunately, the specialty of anesthesiology is well positioned to lead these initiatives. Anesthesiology is already recognized as the pioneering leader in patient safety and we see no reason why anesthesiologists should not be leaders in efficiency and value in health care as well. Indeed, we believe that continuing to position our specialty at the forefront of these initiatives is a key strategy for both the current and future success of anesthesiology and its practitioners.
In 2000, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published its landmark analysis of American health care, "To Err is Human," a treatise that emphasized the fallibility of even highly motivated humans, and emphasized that systems of safe care must be constructed to protect patients from potential harm. That report specifically cited anesthesiology as a leader in the patient safety movement and urged other disciplines to follow, which many have done subsequently. A subsequent IOM publication, "Crossing the Quality Chasm; A New Health System for the 21st Century" (2001) described the attributes of a model health care system that is safe, timely, efficient, effective, patient centered and equitable to all. The PPACA legislation underscored these principles and subsequent regulations translated them into operational policies and practices. We agree with these principles and have worked diligently to adopt them in our own practices and departments, for they are guideposts to the professional and ethical practice of medicine and anesthesiology. Further, we have designed this text around the concepts of safe, effective, efficient, and patient-centered care, and we urge others to approach their practice with a similar commitment to these principles.
Fortunately, the specialty of anesthesiology is well positioned to lead these initiatives. Anesthesiology is already recognized as the pioneering leader in patient safety and we see no reason why anesthesiologists should not be leaders in efficiency and value in health care as well. Indeed, we believe that continuing to position our specialty at the forefront of these initiatives is a key strategy for both the current and future success of anesthesiology and its practitioners.
In 2000, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published its landmark analysis of American health care, "To Err is Human," a treatise that emphasized the fallibility of even highly motivated humans, and emphasized that systems of safe care must be constructed to protect patients from potential harm. That report specifically cited anesthesiology as a leader in the patient safety movement and urged other disciplines to follow, which many have done subsequently. A subsequent IOM publication, "Crossing the Quality Chasm; A New Health System for the 21st Century" (2001) described the attributes of a model health care system that is safe, timely, efficient, effective, patient centered and equitable to all. The PPACA legislation underscored these principles and subsequent regulations translated them into operational policies and practices. We agree with these principles and have worked diligently to adopt them in our own practices and departments, for they are guideposts to the professional and ethical practice of medicine and anesthesiology. Further, we have designed this text around the concepts of safe, effective, efficient, and patient-centered care, and we urge others to approach their practice with a similar commitment to these principles.
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