Developing a defined set of principles of practice helps affirm the quality of care provided by each professional on the weight loss surgery anesthesia team. Fostering realistic expectations among anesthesia staff and patients affirm dignity, excellence, and help create stability and a high standard of care.

• Accuracy and thoroughness should never be sacrificed for convenience.
• Patients have a right to any information about their anesthesia.
• It is our responsibility to let the patient know what we can do for him or her and not wait to be asked.
• We will treat patients as human beings, and not as “something” to plug into all our high technology.
• We will remain current in our chosen profession and anesthesia for the bariatric patients.
• We will have ongoing outcome studies with the bariatric patient.
• Pre- and postoperative anesthesia history will be made on each bariatric patient.
• A patient satisfaction questionnaire will be made available to all patients.
• Continuing education on bariatric anesthesia will be a high priority goal of each team member.
• Up to date anesthesia techniques are encouraged, as is clinical research.
• We will be actively involved as a mentor for nurse anesthesia students in the specialty of bariatric anesthesia.
• Anesthesia services will be conducted as quickly as possible, but a short waiting time will not take priority over the standard of care.
• Anesthesia equipment will be maintained and monitored on an ongoing basis by the Bio-Med Department.
• Communication will be a priority between all members of the surgical team and the anesthesia team and perioperative health care professionals.
• We believe it is important to decrease costs when possible, to benefit both patients and society, but never at the expense of increased risk to the patient.
• All members of the anesthesia team will treat the patient with respect and dignity at all times.
• Benefits and risks of anesthesia will be discussed with all patients and questions answered to patients satisfaction.
• Preoperative education of the patient on their participation in a complete medical history and pharmacological history to help assure a safer anesthesia experience.
• Equipment -- “State of the art” anesthesia equipment is available to our patients. Difficult airway carts are available to all our patients. No bariatric anesthetic is started without this cart available to the patient. Electrical operating room beds with proper weight limits are available to the patient. Transport stretchers are available for patients transported to the operating room appropriate for BMI of patient. Accessory anesthesia equipment is available for safe positioning of the patient. Equipment is available to help maintain patient’s body temperature.