Organisation

STANDARD 1 - ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION

The anaesthesia service is organised and administered to provide safe and efficient anaesthesia for patients and excellent teaching for trainees. The service is co-ordinated with other related departments or services of the health care facility.

1. CRITERIA

1.1 Where the nature of the facility is such that a significant surgical or obstetrical caseload exists, there is an anaesthesia service which is organised and under the direction of a member of the medical staff.

1.2 The duties of the director are specified in a job description and the director ensures, either personally or by delegation, the following :

	The availability and maintenance of equipment, drugs and agents necessary for the safe administration of anaesthetics and the related techniques essential to the proper care of the anaesthetised patient.
	The keeping of adequate records documenting the conduct of anaesthesia in a form suitable for evaluating the quality of care.
	The keeping of appropriate statistics of the number of anaesthetics given.
	Documentation and promulgation of administrative policies and procedures.
	That satisfactory arrangements are made for the availability of staff for emergency.
	Cooperation with other departments of the facility, provision of support where necessary and provision of representatives to relevant committees.
	That members of the anaesthetic service meet regularly for clinical review, educational and business purposes; and that signed and dated minutes of relevant meetings are kept.

1.3 Written objectives reflecting the role of the facility and guiding the activities of the service are readily available.

1.4 An organisational chart establishes clear lines of responsibility, authority and communication within the service and between other services.

1.5 The written objectives and the organisational chart are reviewed at least every three (3) years and revised as necessary.

1.6 The anaesthetic service supports and assumes responsibility, where appropriate, for the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and acute pain management services of the facility.

1.7 Where a facility provides an obstetric service, the anaesthesia service is responsible for the provision of safe and efficient regional anaesthesia to obstetric patients.

1.8 There is an adequate anaesthetic record

INTERPRETATION

	Requirements of the anaesthetic record are not listed in detail but, in general, should comply with the guidelines, as outlined by the Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons-Document P.6 (1990)
	In the case of electro-convulsive therapy there may be a single form which has anaesthetic information, as well as treatment information.