Educating for success: ambulatory anesthesia training

Abstract

Purpose of review This article explores the unique intersection of the challenges confronting ambulatory anesthesiology education and charts a trajectory forward. The proportion of ambulatory, nonoperating room (NORA), and office-based surgical cases continues to rise; however, the requirements for trainees in these settings have remained static. The rapid evolution of the field combined with a limited workforce also makes continuing education essential, and we discuss the current and future states of ambulatory anesthesia education. Recent findings Although numerous resources are available across an array of platforms to foster both trainee education and continuing education for practicing anesthesiologists, there is a paucity of current literature evaluating the impact of new curricula developed specifically for ambulatory, NORA, or office-based anesthesiology (OBA). Summary We begin with an appraisal of the current state of ambulatory anesthesiology training and evaluate the gap between current graduate medical education and trends in ambulatory surgery. We then develop a vision for an ideal state of future ambulatory education for residents as well as anesthesiologists in practice and highlight the priorities necessary to reach this vision.