A survey of anesthesia support personnel in teaching programs.

Although the amount and complexity of equipment and supplies used in the practice of anesthesia have sharply increased in the past decade, the role of technical support personnel dealing with this technology has not been assessed. In an effort to determine that role, a questionnaire survey was conducted of the apportionment, direction, duties, and training of anesthesia technicians in teaching departments. Two-thirds of the inquiries were returned, disclosing a typical allocation of three anesthetizing locations (or 2000 annual anesthetics) per technician. A large majority of these departments have direct control of their technicians. Virtually all of these personnel are responsible for the routine upkeep and setup of anesthesia machines and monitors, although about one-third perform more specialized clinical functions. The preparation of these technicians for their duties varies widely, with almost 60% high school graduates and virtually all reporting training as on-the-job. The authors conclude that the term "anesthesia technician" remains poorly defined and unstandardized, and that current diverse efforts to address this issue deserve attention.