MY VIEW: Associate Member
Training for Excellence in Office-Based Anesthesia
by MARTHA PETERS, CDA O
ffice-based anesthesia privileges are vital to the livelihood of many dental practices that administer anesthesia and sedation. The ability to provide effective pain and anxiety manage- ment to patients is a need that has always existed—but—a need that must be met in a safe environment.
It is crucial that the dental team deliver quality, office-based ambulatory anesthesia. There is a critical need to properly validate training for anesthesia assistants who work under the supervision of dentists in offices that administer anesthesia and sedation. Dental teams, under the dentist’s leadership, must have as their highest priority delivering safe patient care. For this reason, the valida- tion of this training and skill set continues to be under scrutiny.
Anesthesia and sedation administration is a privilege that can be earned by many dentists through intensive training. Preservation of this privilege should never be taken for granted and must be held to the highest standards and delivered with safety, confi- dence and effectiveness. The dentist must have a highly-trained team to accomplish this, which requires leadership, preparation and simulation. Facilitating the development of competent dental anesthesia assistants through teaching and training remains im- perative. Then, and only then, will the bar be set high to deliver exceptional patient care.
A comprehensive training program extends beyond just anesthesia training. It starts with the dentist’s vision for the practice to build, lead and engage the team—a plan for excellence that encourages the dental team
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of our proficiencies and deficits. Identifying the gap between what we have mastered and what we need to master is critical. Part of the training plan needs to fill that gap.
to weave purpose, commitment and passion into every aspect of patient care. Leader- ship from the dentist is a key component to attracting and retaining top-quality staff that will engage in training and support the prac- tice vision. Dentists who expect excellence will get excellence.
Development of the dental staff begins with the dentist. Staff will respond to a dentist who clearly communicates the expectations and provides support, and as well shares his or her knowledge. Teachable and trainable moments elevate the practice. Constant immersion in training is the single most important element to emergency preparation and management. Skills are mastered with confidence through in-depth knowledge, understanding and frequent performance. Training for excellence prepares staff for the unexpected. Skills are improved through constant review. This gives an assessment
So how is training for excellence in office- based anesthesia achieved? By teaching, practicing and demonstrating skills used in anesthesia administration. Frequently providing the dental team with opportuni- ties to expand knowledge through hands-on training and evaluation is an effective way to master skills. Recognition and management of office emergencies are essential to success- ful outcomes. Recognizing and responding to emergency situations are fundamental skills that must be mastered. Understanding the role of each team member also is vital. In an emergency situation, everyone must be com- fortable in performing their role. Training as a team ensures that each staff member un- derstands their role and how to interact with other staff to achieve the desired outcome. Team training also builds relationships, trust, proficiency and confidence.
There are many resources today for train- ing and developing the dental anesthesia team for excellence. The DAANCE (Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification Examination), developed by AAOMS (Ameri- can Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons) is a core educational curriculum geared towards training the dental anesthe- sia assistant for office-based anesthesia and sedation assisting. DAANCE is offered to all dental anesthesia assistants who work in of- fices that maintain valid anesthesia permits.
The Anesthesia Assistants Review Course (AARC), sponsored by AAOMS, is a compre- hensive live, in-person review course that
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