Key result
Advanced anesthesia support staff provide high-value perioperative care for complex patients.
Why the study?
Despite a history dating back to 1937, information about anesthesia support staff in the literature remains scant.
This review highlights the evolving roles, certification, and value of anesthesia support staff in perioperative care in the United States.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Does not warrant practice changes in anesthesia staffing; leaves open optimal future roles pending prospective data.
Anesthesia support staff have been around since 1937 with the onset of academic anesthesia departments. Despite this history, information about them is scant in the literature. The roles, job titles, and training for anesthesia support staff has evolved over time. In the United States, the American Society for Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT) is an organization that now provides certification for anesthesia support staff. Advanced anesthesia support roles such as the Certified Anesthesia Technologist and corresponding educational programs to obtain certification fill a need in anesthesia teams taking care of more complex patients. These specialized support staff members provide a high-value service in perioperative anesthetic care. This article aims to present a comprehensive review of the history, current situation, and future possibilities for anesthesia support staff.
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Phelps et al. (2026) reported a review. Anesthesia support staff was evaluated. Advanced anesthesia support roles and specialized staff provide a high-value service in perioperative anesthetic care for complex patients.
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