Mandy Thandi

DISCLOSURE

OUTLINE

What is an Anesthesia Clinical Assistant

(ACA)?

What is the problem?

What is our solution to the problem?

What were the lessons learned?

What is an ACA?

Anesthesia Care Team

ACA = Anesthesia Extender

Clinical skills

Technical skills

Anesthesia Clinical Assistants

• SAFE

• EFFICIENT

• COST-EFFECTIVE

SAFE

EFFICIENT

COST-EFFECTIVE

My Story

Working a night shift…..

What is the problem?

Demand for ACA’s exceeds supply of

ACA’s

Recruitment and retention Issues

Need a current and comprehensive

training program applicable to our center

Staff burnout

ACA demand exceeds supply

Demand Exceeds Supply

Demand

Expansion of Services

New Positions

Supply

Recruitment

Training Program

Retention

Staff Burnout

Finding a solution

ACA Educational Programs in

Canada

Developing Partnerships

Engaging Stakeholders

• Hospital

Administration

• Anesthesiologists

• Anesthesia

Assistants

• Educational

Institutions

• Human Resources

• Unions

Who’s In?

Building The ACA Program

Education Team:

Administrator

Educator

Anesthesiologist

Recruited members from the VGH &

BCCH Anesthesia Department

Engaged UBC simulation team

VCH ACA Program

2 Month Didactic

6 Month Clinical

3 Month Orientation

. •OR ROTATION

. •SIMULATION ROTATION

. •LAB ROTATION

•CLASS DAYS

Posting a Training Position

Human Resources

Health Science Association

Advertising

Lessons Learned

Build partnerships

Early engagement of stakeholders

Building an education team

QUESTIONS