Clinical Applicability: Moderate Sedation Program: Medical Simulation Corporation

Moderate Sedation Tools and Services

Clinical Applicability

During moderate or conscious sedation, sedative and analgesic medications are used to diminish patient anxiety and discomfort in order to facilitate certain diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The patient does not lose consciousness and maintains an open airway and spontaneous breathing. Many procedures that used to be performed with general anesthesia or sedation by an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist including colonoscopy, cardiac catheterization, minor surgery and some dental procedures, are now frequently performed with moderate sedation.

Nearly 70% of surgical procedures are now performed in hospital outpatient departments, surgical centers, and doctor’s offices.^*
Training and credentialing standards vary from state to state.
Many hospitals are adopting strict new credentialing programs for anyone who administers anesthesia, with recertification every two years.
JCAHO requires that hospitals have clear policies for administering moderate and deep sedation, and that staffers have appropriate credentials to manage whatever level of sedation occurs; however, JCAHO has found that 18% of hospitals do not adhere to those standards.

MSC's Moderate Sedation program supports several areas of the JCAHO standards. Click here for details.

_{* Reference: Landro, L. Hospitals Move to Curb Anesthesia Risk: New Guidelines Require Training for Surgeons who Give Sedation without an Anesthesiologist. The Wall Street Journal, Online. August 9, 2006; Page D1.}