The anesthesiologist-intensivist should be available to perform or supervise all invasive procedures. There may come a time when continued care is futile and perhaps inappropriate. In such circumstances, the anesthesiologist-intensivist, in conjunction with other care providers, should be available and able to discuss the humane and ethical withdrawal of care and provide for comfort of the patient and family. This implies a moral commitment to honor the patient's advance directives or spoken desires. E. Patients must be seen at intervals appropriate to an individual patient's condition.
All activities are to be documented in the medical record.
In addition, critical care anesthesiologists are experts in the care of the unconscious patient regardless of etiology, of the patient with a multiple organ injury or disease with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and of patients requiring life support. The critical care anesthesiologist effectively coordinates the management of these situations in a comprehensive and appropriate manner. The anesthesiologist-intensivist possesses the skills to perform a myriad of diagnostic, monitoring and therapeutic activities. The anesthesiologist-intensivist should assume responsibility for the education of physicians in training and all other personnel involved in the care of the critically ill patient. This involves formal teaching conferences and use of other means for the dissemination of important new information on the care of the critically ill, advances in monitoring and therapy, and important administrative issues.