Clinical Sections

Ambulatory

Kirk H. Shelley, MD, PH.D. Medical Director
Boonsri Kosarussavadi, MD, Associate Director

Rima Aouad, MD
Susan Dabu-Bondoc, MD, Director of AMOR PACU
Jacqueline Drummond-Lewis, MD
Denis Jablonka, MD
Christine S. Rinder, MD
Robby Romero, MD, Director of Education
Veena Salgar, MD
Nalini Vadivelu, MD
Michele Argo, BSN, CRNA
Ann Marie Julian, BSN, CRNA
Pamela McGuigan, BSN, CRNA
Mija Surh, BSN, CRNA

Clinical & Administrative Activities

This year has only seen a moderate growth in the number of cases and hours of surgery performed in the AMOR. This is in part because we have simply run out of operating rooms in which to put new cases. We have positioned ourselves well in the market place as the "sick" AMOR that is capable of caring for medically-challenging out-patients. We are constantly striving to incorporate the latest surgical technology and take advantage of resources only a major tertiary care center can provide. We successful recruited Dr. Jablonka to the AMOR faculty from his pediatric fellowship. He is well known in the section from his successful research effort with Dr. Shelley. In addition in an effort to expand the regional anesthesia practice, a daily "block team" has been created.

Ambulatory

Teaching Activities

We continue orienting new CA1's. Both the faculty and residents expressed significant satisfaction with the experience. A number of those residents have gone on to become chief residents. With this program we are committed to have the new resident spend extended periods of time 1:1 with an attending. It is our opportunity to teach not only the technical aspects of our profession but also our values.

What we have to teach

• Basics of Anesthesia: Our practice is characterized by a high-volume of "routine" cases. In our area a resident can easily be exposed to two to three times the number of cases that other sections have to offer. It is a wonderful environment to learn the trade of anesthesia.
• Ambulatory anesthesia: Sending the patient home at the end of the day requires special techniques that need to be learned. We are clearly the most qualified to teach.
• Doctor-patient relationship: We have a high patient satisfaction rating because of the time and effort we place on this aspect of anesthesia. We are convinced that this high patient satisfaction leads to smoother anesthetics and acts as a deterrent to malpractice actions. Acting as role models and mentors we find that these techniques can be taught.
• OR management: This is more then just starting a room on time or having quick turn-over, which we do daily. We can teach how one plans and executes a smooth, pleasant, and efficient day.
• Regional Anesthesia: This is one of the hallmarks of Ambulatory anesthesia. It's challenging, at times frustrating, but can be most rewarding if correctly executed. The volume and type of cases done here, as well as our staff's skills and interests, make our division uniquely suited to teach these techniques.

Research Activities

As always, research activity of any type is quite challenging in the fast paced & production oriented ambulatory environment. Dr. Zeev Kain, the executive vice chair, has successfully led a number of research projects with ambulatory faculty (Dr. Dabu-Bondoc, & Dr. Drummond). Dr. Shelley has continued his long term project of examining the pulse oximeter waveform for information regarding the cardiovascular system and continues to collaborate with Dr. David Silverman's non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring group.