Studies & Degrees in Critical Care

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Critical Care Study Programs

University Master's Degree in Urgent and Emergency Care – Official
International University of Catalonia

Level: Graduate     Location: Barcelona

An area of medical practice which focuses on pain relief and overall care for the surgical patients is known as Anesthesiology. Professionals of this field are referred to as anesthesiologists who have typically rendered work in outpatient clinics or hospitals as a member of a team for patient care. These professionals have the medical background needed in order to handle various and several kinds of critical situations. The initially provide cardiac and pulmonary resuscitation, provide airway management, pain control and advance life support. As consultants in nature, they also hold active role in the stabilization and preparation of patients for emergency surgeries.

During the course of their jobs, the anesthesiologists take a big part in the following procedures:

• Assessment and preparation of surgical patients for anesthesia

• Overall care for critically ill patients

• Detecting and curing severe, unceasing and pain related to cancer

• Understanding and analyzing medical charts

• Properly positioning the patients on the operating table according to the type of procedure

• Delivering sedating medicine and giving anesthesia

• Equipment monitoring

• Monitoring vital signs of patients and keeping in track the flow of anesthesia

• Counter any complications or reactions caused by anesthesia

• Documenting information of patients

• Having consultations with involved medical staff and doctors

Anesthesiology as a medical practice requires that those who are interested to take on a career in this field should initially complete the educational requirements compulsory as a medical doctor. This is consisting of finishing a 4-year degree, usually in pre-med or science area. This is pursued by completing internship or residency in general medicine or in a medical school. After completing a program in a medical school, there are some countries which will require the practitioner to attain completion of an anesthesia’s residency program. In many cases, another requirement is passing a licensure before being employed as an anesthesiologist. Moreover it involves passing a series of tests which varies per country or state where an anesthesiologist intends to practice.

Furthermore, aside from the regular coursework in math, health, patient care, biology and other areas necessary to becoming a doctor, the anesthesiologists are also required to render on the job training in areas such as research practices for anesthesiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology and in pain management.

Anesthesiologists often render their work in a hands-on environment together with the patients. In such setting they may focus on general medicine, surgery, osteopathic medicine, pulmonary care, emergency room rotations, pediatric and geriatric patients. They can also work in other specific departments like the cancer ward.

Additionally, they can work in research, an educational setting or in a business wherein they can address both political and social issues like addiction to pain medication, right to die and bioethics.

The outlook for the careers anesthesiologists, as well as the surgeons and physicians is anticipated to be increase due to the growing population which will call for more doctors to cope all their needs for health care. Anesthesiologists will get to experience the peak rise in employment in reaction to the demands of the patients for accessing specialty care.