Discovering What Patients Really Expect from Their Anesthesiologist

As twenty-first century medicine shifts from a production-based model to a patient-centered model, and as the emphasis on quality and patient satisfaction increases, anesthesiologists will need to pay special attention to the needs and concerns of the patients they serve. Focus groups were conducted with two sets of people who had previously received general anesthesia. During the focus groups, the participants were collectively asked a series of questions to determine their positive and negative experiences related to the administration of general anesthesia. A common theme was discovered in which most patients indicated a desire to develop a meaningful relationship with their anesthesiologist centered on effective communication and respect.