Anesthesiologist Assistant

An Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) is a non-physician anesthesia provider who practices anesthesia under the medical direction of an anesthesiologist. The AA works as an integral assistant to Anesthesiologists in the anesthesia care team (ACT).

An anesthesiologist assistant (AA) is a non-physician anesthesia provider qualified by advanced education and clinical training to work cooperatively with an anesthesiologist in developing and implementing the anesthesia care plan. The anesthesiologist assistant works under the medical direction of an anesthesiologist as an assistant in the Anesthesia Care Team (ACT). Anesthesiologist assistants obtain pre-anesthetic health history, perform preoperative physical exams, establish non-invasive and invasive monitors, administer medications, evaluate and treat life-threatening situations, and execute general and regional anesthetic techniques, as delegated by the anesthesiologist.

Anesthesiologist assistants generally work in the hospital setting but can work at any location where they can be medically directed by anesthesiologists. Anesthesiologist assistants provide anesthesia in surgical environments such as cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, transplant surgery, and trauma surgery centers. The incorporation of anesthesiologist assistants into ACT teams across the country is a dynamic process, and currently there are sixteen states, as well as Washington D.C. and the Veteran’s Affairs Medical System, in which anesthesiologist assistants are able to work but none currently do. In each of these states, the anesthesiologist assistant falls under the regulatory authority of the State Board of Medicine.

As of 2017^[update] there are twelve anesthesiologist assistant training programs in the United States all of which offer degrees at the Master’s level. Approximately 97% of currently practicing anesthesiologist assistants hold a Master’s degree (some early anesthesiologist assistant graduates held Bachelor’s degrees). All newly credentialed and future anesthesiologist assistants must complete an accredited Master’s program for anesthesiologist assistants. Upon completion of the educational program, graduates must sit for a credentialing exam that is co-validated by the National Board of Medical Examiners and National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants. All anesthesiologist assistant programs are credentialed by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP).

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