Editorial

Summer is here!

Richard O’Flynn, MD, FASA

Editor, The Sentinel

As we enter the summer vacation period, thoughts turn to time off from the usual grind of the daily operating room schedules, but we realize that staffing needs increase as others take time off.

Reflecting on the more numerous emails and phone calls for locum coverage, it has become obvious that there is a shortage of anesthesiologists in Pennsylvania and nationwide. Whether this is a seasonal event, related to Covid and early retirement, or the beginning of a more serious shortage remains to be seen.

We have seen this pattern in the past. There always seems to be an “in favor” specialty and an “out of favor” specialty. Some specialties, like orthopedics, ophthalmology, and radiology, always seem to be “in favor” but others, like pediatrics, family practice, and less so, anesthesiology, seem to go through staffing shortages. Let’s hope that anesthesiology becomes and remains an “in favor” specialty because when there’s a void, others see the opportunity to fill that need.This edition of the Sentinel is packed with interesting articles from a look back on the history of labor analgesia to the role of opioids in anesthesia care. The report from the PSA attorney highlights an important legal case working its way through the courts concerning malpractice defense. There is also an interesting article about noise pollution in the operating room and how it affects everyone in the room.

As always, comments and articles are welcome. Correspondence can be sent to:

PSASentinelEditor@gmail.com. We would also like to welcome Joan Oguntimein, MD as the Assistant Editor of the Sentinel.