1. INTRODUCTION:
A. The Medical Specialty Advisory Committee for Anesthesiology has agreed on a first set of practice parameters. These include: The Anesthesia Record; Standards for Intraoperative Monitoring; Standards for Postoperative Care; and, Preoperative Laboratory Testing for Anesthesia for American Society of Anesthesiologists Class I (ASA I) patients undergoing non-major surgery.
B. For the most part, these standards are developed from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) standards and guidelines. However, the adoption of these standards and parameters for use in the Maine Medical Liability Demonstration Project does not imply ASA endorsement or policy, nor have these standards received any form of approval from that body. These standards should be considered unique to the State of Maine.
C. Practice parameters in Anesthesiology are defined as incorporating standards, guidelines and other patient management strategies that result in high quality of patient care but which also recognize that there is a finite limit of resources available for health care.
D. These practice parameters, which may be exceeded, apply to all patients who receive anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care. Under extenuating circumstances, it may not be medically appropriate to follow these practice parameters. When this is the case, the circumstances, including the care provided, shall be documented in the record.
