Certified Anesthesiology Assistant (CAA)

The Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) is prepared to gather patient data, perform patient evaluation, and to administer and document the therapeutic plan that has been formulated for the anesthetic care of the patient. The CAA provides anesthetic care under the supervision and delegation of a qualified physician anesthesiologist.

The Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) responsibilities include:  developing and implementing an anesthesia care plan for a patient; obtaining a comprehensive patient history and performing relevant elements of a physical exam; performing preoperative and post-operative anesthetic evaluations and maintain patient progress notes; order and performing preoperative patient consultations; ordering preoperative medications, including controlled substances, which may be administered before the supervising anesthesiology cosigns; pretesting and calibrating anesthesia delivery systems and obtaining and interpreting information from the systems and from monitors; implementing medically accepted monitoring techniques, performing basic and advanced airway interventions, including, but not limited to, endotracheal laryngeal mask insertion and other advanced airways techniques; establishing peripheral intravenous lines, including subcutaneous lidocaine use; performing invasive procedures including but not limited to arterial lines, central lines, and performing general anesthesia, including induction, maintenance, emergency and procedures associated with general anesthesia, such as gastric intubation; administering anesthetic drugs, adjuvant drugs and accessory drugs; administering vasoactive drugs and starting and titrating vasoactive infusions to treat patient responses to anesthesia; performing, maintaining, evaluating and managing epidural, spinal and regional anesthesia including catheters; performing monitored anesthesia care; obtaining venous and arterial blood samples; administering blood, blood products and supportive fluids; performing, ordering and interpreting appropriate preoperative, point of care, intra-operative or postoperative diagnostic tests or procedures; obtaining and administering perioperative anesthesia and related pharmaceutical agents, including fluids and blood products; managing the patient while in the preoperative suite, recovery area or labor suites; ordering postoperative sedation, anxiolysis or analgesia, postoperative respiratory therapy and medicines to treat patient responses to anesthesia and ordering postoperative oxygen therapy, including initial ventilator therapy, ordering, which may be administered before the supervising anesthesiologist cosigns; initiating and managing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in response to a life-threatening situation.

Education:

Required: Master of Science in Anesthesia.  Completion of an accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant program.

Experience:

Required: None. 

Certifications:

Required: Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA).  Current certification with the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA).  AHA BLS, AHA ACLS. AHA PALS, if pediatric patients served.

Physical Demands: