Ambulatory Anesthesiology
The Division of Ambulatory Anesthesiology at Vanderbilt was formed in 2008 to provide services for a growing number of Vanderbilt University Medical Center satellite locations including Vanderbilt Outpatient Surgery Center (VOS), the Cool Springs Surgery Center (CSSC), and Vanderbilt Bone & Joint Surgery Center (VBJ.) In addition, the division provides services for Surgical Care Affiliates' Nashville Surgery Center, a private 5 room/1 procedure room ASC. In the fall of 2014, the Ambulatory Division began providing services for Medical Center East, an 11 room low-acuity/ambulatory center within Vanderbilt University Hospitals. With this acquisition, the Division provides services for 28 anesthetizing locations daily, and is set to care for over 20,000 patients yearly.
New services have been added in the division as demand for ambulatory surgery procedures continues to grow. In October 2009, the Cool Springs Surgery Center began offering ambulatory neurological procedures and a surgical spine service, including anterior cervical discectomy and minimally invasive lumbar laminectomy. Outpatient bariatric surgery has also been added at CSSC. CSSC has enjoyed national recognition two years in a row as Symbion's "Surgery Center of the Year."
In addition to its clinical service activities, the division also provides educational experiences for residents and fellows in ambulatory anesthesia and perioperative management. Residents are extensively involved in the critical issues of patient selection and perioperative care for this increasingly complex patient population. As the VOS is primarily an orthopedic/sports medicine center, a significant portion of training in regional anesthesia occurs here. This separate and distinct rotation allows residents to focus on learning the techniques of regional blockade including the use of ultrasound and the placement of regional catheters for home-based, post-operative pain management. Residents also learn how to manage an entire system of care to deliver safe and cost-effective care while achieving high patient and surgeon satisfaction. There are opportunities within the division for scholarship in clinical research related to optimal patient assessment and outcome management.
The Division of Ambulatory Anesthesiology is led by Christopher Canlas, MD, and includes 10 full time faculty, 30 CRNAs, and two to three rotating residents each month.