Office-Based Anesthesia FAQ

The Six Questions You Need To Ask Before Undergoing Office-Based Surgery

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Is this the best setting for me?

Make sure the surgeon knows your entire health history and takes your personal risk of complications into account.

When you choose Valley to provide your office-based anesthesia, a member of Valley's anesthesia care team will contact you prior to your surgery to learn more about your medical history.

Is your office or the anesthesia provider accredited and licensed?

For surgery that involves anesthesia, a thumbs-up from your state or one of the major accrediting organization is a must -- even when the law doesn't demand it. You can find accredited practices on the Web sites of the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities, the Joint Commission or the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.

Though Arizona law does not mandate accreditation of surgical offices or OBA providers, Valley Mobile Services is the only OBA provider in Arizona accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.

Who will administer the anesthesia?

For more than minimal sedation, safety demands that it be a board-certified anesthesiologist or a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Valley assigns a board-certified anesthesiologist and a registered nurse to administer peri-operative care for its office-based surgery cases to ensure patient safety and comfort.

Are you board-certified in this field?

You can check the credentials of both the operating physician and the anesthesiologist at the American Board of Medical Specialties' Web site.

All of Valley's anesthesiologists are board-certified or board eligible. Review the credentials of Valley Anesthesiology Consultants' providers.

What emergency procedures are in place?

Well-maintained equipment -- including an automatic external defibrillator, intubation equipment, and oxygen supply -- are vital in those crucial minutes before an ambulance arrives. Staff should also have professional resuscitation training, such as the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support program from the American Heart Association.

Valley provides the safety and comfort of the operating room in the office setting. For all office-based surgery cases, Valley uses state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, intubation equipment and oxygen. Additionally, all of Valley's office-based anesthesia physicians and nurses are Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certified. For pediatric cases, providers are certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).

Who will monitor my recovery?

A doctor or nurse should be by your side until you're ready to go home.

Valley's office-based anesthesia physicians and nurses remain with the patient until the patient is fully recovered. Valley's nurses are dedicated exclusively to the pre-op and post-op care of office-based surgery patients.