Check out the timestamps below to help you navigate through the many topics we discussed.
On This Episode:
Office-based anesthesia (OBA) is no longer the “wild west” of healthcare. It’s a thriving, highly specialized branch of anesthesia practice that’s changing the way patients experience surgery. In this episode, Lynn and Garry take you inside the rapidly growing world of OBA, where 10 million procedures a year are now performed outside hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. They explore why patients and providers are embracing this setting, the evolving safety standards, and the anesthetic techniques that make it work.
Looking ahead, the future of OBA appears robust, with a sharpening focus on continuous improvement and safety. This involves optimizing care through "four C's": Communication, Competency, Connectivity, and Collaboration. There's a vital emphasis on providing effective OBA safety education for anesthesia professionals, implementing customizable safety checklists for challenging situations, and leveraging technology-based solutions like artificial intelligence and decision support systems to enhance periprocedural safety. As the field continues to expand and evolve, these concerted efforts aim to ensure that OBA remains a safe, accessible, and highly satisfactory option for a growing number of patients seeking outpatient surgical care.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
📈 OBA is booming – Driven by demand for cosmetic surgery, cost savings, and convenience.
🛡 Safety standards are strong – Accreditation, patient selection, and guideline adherence are key.
💉 PK infusions + nerve blocks – Deliver superior anesthesia without invasive airways.
🤖 Tech innovations – AI decision support & simulation training enhance safety.
🧠 Four Cs for the future – Communication, competency, connectivity, collaboration.
Catch Sharon Live at the 53rd Annual Refresher Course for Nurse Anesthetists!
Join Sharon this November 14–16, 2025, at the Hilton Hotel in Walt Disney World Village, Florida, for the Frank Moya Continuing Education Program’s annual conference. She’ll be delivering four insightful talks as part of the guest faculty lineup.
Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and recharge—with some Disney magic on the side!
Click here for more details and to register
Important Links:
"Balancing its powerful benefits with these potential complexities requires continuous learning by our anesthesia providers."
- Lynn & Garry
References
Arens, J. F. (2000). Anesthesia for Office-Based Surgery: Are We Paying Too High a Price for Access and Convenience? Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 75(3), 225–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-6196(11)65023-4
Bharadwaj, S., & Dougherty, W. (2023). Anesthesia for office‐based facial plastic surgery procedures. World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 9(3), 200–205. https://doi.org/10.1002/wjo2.131
Blake, D. R. (2008). Office-Based Anesthesia: Dispelling Common Myths. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 28(5), 564–570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asj.2008.07.012
Greenberg, S. B. (2025). Office-Based Anesthesia: The Focus on Communication, Competency, Connectivity, and Collaboration. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 141(2), 227–229. https://doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0000000000007576
Hunstad, J. P., & Walk, P. H. (2007). Office-Based Anesthesia. Seminars in Plastic Surgery, 21(2), 103–107. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-979210
Kurrek, M. M., & Twersky, R. S. (2010). Office-based anesthesia. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, 57(3), 256–272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12630-009-9238-z
Kurrek, M. M., & Twersky, R. S. (2010). Office-Based Anesthesia: How to Start an Office-Based Practice. Anesthesiology Clinics, 28(2), 353–367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anclin.2010.02.006
Talluto, J., Chinthareddy, V. R., Osman, B. M., & Shapiro, F. E. (2025). Office-Based Anesthesia: An Update on Current Trends and Practice. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 141(2), 231–235. https://doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0000000000007457
Tang, J., Chen, L., White, P. F., Watcha, M. F., Wender, R. H., Naruse, R., Kariger, R., & Sloninsky, A. (1999). Recovery Profile, Costs, and Patient Satisfaction with Propofol and Sevoflurane for Fast-track Office-based Anesthesia. Anesthesiology (Philadelphia), 91(1), 253–261. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000542-199907000-00034
