Anesthesiologists are responsible for care of the surgical patient before, during and after surgery.
The traditional role of the anesthesiologist is to administer anesthesia and control consciousness of patients. However, they are involved in many other aspects of patient care. The anesthesiologist evaluates the patient before surgery, works with the surgeons to monitor the patient's status during surgery, and oversees the patient's care while they remain in the recovery unit. Anesthesiologists allow for the surgical process to be considerably less distressing for the patient. They are able to significantly lessen pain and to continue to keep the patient comfortable during their recovery.