A response to the Twitter post about being offended by being referred to as anesthesia.

"Dear world, Please do not call us “anesthesia”. We are not a medication. Acceptable alternatives would be: Are you the anesthesiologist? Are you part of the anesthesia team? What is your role? I’m Dr. X and you are? Thank you for your attention to this PSA."

     Yes, I often refer to the "head of the bed" (the anesthesia team) as "anesthesia" (or "head of the bed"). There is absolutely no disrespect associated with this. We aren’t actually under the impression that our colleagues in other specialties don’t have names. I don't walk down the hall and wave while saying "hey cardiology how are you" or "hey GI any good scopes recently". But when it’s a chaotic/ urgent situation (responding to a code, crash laparotomy, busy trauma bay), don't get offended that your name isn't at the tip of my tongue. When you walk in and I say "anesthesia is here" or ask "are you anesthesia", everyone in the room automatically understands the change in the dynamic. We all know that someone skilled in airway management and sedation has arrived. Trust me, it's not about reducing you to a bottle of propofol. We don't need your name…we need your skillset. When there is a time for conversation, I will ask your name if I don't know you. Or I'll say, sorry, I know we've met, remind me of your name.

     As for being in the OR. There is only one team that doesn't take breaks or have teammates that "sub in" in the OR, and that’s the surgical team. Nurses, scrub techs and anesthesia providers all have personnel that can relieve them during the game. So when I look back toward my scrub tech and see a different face, I will ask their name. But when you're on the other side of the blood-brain barrier (also known as the sterile blue drapes), I can't see your face. And again, you might change multiple times throughout the case, so don't expect me to keep tabs on who is there when I'm focused on the task at hand. That’s an unnecessary cognitive load.

     I have modified my practice this week. In the last step of every preoperative timeout, just before incision, everyone introduces themselves and states their role. It humanizes everyone and serves to remind us that we are on the same team. And breaks up the formality and rote practice that we fall into.

     Outside the OR, I still don't have the ego to be offended by being referred to as my specialty. You can call me “trauma” or “surgery” whenever you want. I’d be giddy if every time I walked into a room, people stopped and declared “trauma is here”. And every person in that room either knows me (regardless of whether they know or forgot or never knew my name) or doesn't know me. But my name is irrelevant- the patient is the priority.