Office-Based Anesthesia and Surgery: Unique Aspects

Office-based anesthesia and surgery have become increasingly popular over the past few decades. With the advancement in technology, improved available equipment, increased cost of in-hospital healthcare, and decreased overhead costs of office-based procedures; more and more procedures are being performed in a freestanding office. Advantages of office-based surgery include ease of scheduling procedures, convenience for both the patient and the surgeon, decreased costs, and improved patient privacy. With the increasing number of office-based surgery procedures, there has been concern for patient safety. Careful patient selection, obtaining accreditation, staffing facilities with qualified personnel, and having properly functioning equipment, are some measures that can enhance patient safety.