INTRODUCTION

The practice of office-based anesthesiology (OBA) is nearly a century old. However, published articles on the subject did not appear in the medical literature until 1981. As with traditional applications, the goal of anesthesia in the office setting is to provide patients with a lack of awareness of surrounding events, to keep the patient still to allow the surgery to take place, to enable access for the surgeon through muscles to bones and body cavities. All cosmetic surgery avoids body cavities and is therefore, minimally curative to prevent dangerous surges in hemodynamics.

Compared to hospitals and licensed ambulatory surgery centers, office-based medical practices currently have to abide by significantly fewer regulations. Therefore, it is imperative that physicians adequately investigate areas taken for granted in the hospital or ambulatory surgical facility, such as organizational structure, governance, facility construction, and logistical equipment, as well as policies and procedures, including fire, safety, drugs, emergencies, staffing, training, and unanticipated patient transfers.

In addition to the core functions of any business, OBA possesses many unique elements compared to traditional hospital-based practice. At its core, OBA more closely resembles any other community-based referral practice with a long list of business considerations. The benefits of OBA have made it one of the fastest growing sectors in anesthesiology. Patients enjoy the heightened privacy, efficiency, and familiarity of an office setting (lower costs, too). Surgeons appreciate the increased convenience and control of operating in their own offices.