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Pediatric anesthesia in North America
Ilavajady Srinivasan1, Simon Whyte2, Katherine Bailey2
1Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Paediatric Anaesthesia
|March 11, 2024
Summary
Pediatric anesthesia training and care delivery vary significantly across North America and the Caribbean. Key challenges include workforce shortages and infrastructure limitations, impacting patient care quality.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Care
Background:
- This review examines pediatric anesthesia training, care delivery, and challenges in Canada, Barbados, and the United States.
- Pediatric anesthesia is a critical sub-specialty impacting millions of children annually.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the current state of pediatric anesthesia.
- To identify and compare challenges in training and care delivery across diverse healthcare systems.
Main Methods:
- Educational review of existing literature and practices.
- Comparative analysis of pediatric anesthesia landscapes in three distinct regions.
Main Results:
- Canada focuses on national accreditation and faces workforce shortages, especially in remote areas.
- Barbados, lacking dedicated pediatric facilities, relies on trained anesthetists and faces infrastructure/workforce challenges.
- The United States grapples with recruitment, supply chain issues, and site proliferation impacting care quality.
Conclusions:
- Addressing workforce shortages and improving infrastructure are crucial for enhancing pediatric anesthesia care globally.
- Collaborative national and organizational efforts are vital for advancing pediatric anesthesia quality and safety.
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