On June 23, 2007, the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society held a Patient Safety Symposium in conjunction with its Annual General Meeting in Calgary, Alberta.

The Symposium focused on Anesthesia Information Management Systems (AIMS).

To highlight and support the efforts of CAS in advancing patient safety in anesthesia, the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) is providing the entire Symposium on the web. Following are summaries of the symposium proceedings and clickable links to view and hear the Introduction, three presentations, and the Panel Discussion that followed. 

Symposium Chair: Dr David Goldstein, Kingston, ON

Objectives: Describe the role of AIMS systems for the anesthetic patient. Describe the benefits and hazards of current anesthetic charting. Describe the hardware and software requirements for an AIMS. Develop a 'how-to guide' for implementing an AIMS into the clinical anesthesia workplace. Estimate the financial and human resources necessary to establish and maintain an AIMS. Develop a pre-purchase checklist. Select a specific AIMS from a range of new products. Carry out a pre-purchase evaluation of terminology sets for an AIMS and appraisal of databases relevant to anesthetic practice.

Introduction
Click here to view and listen to the  Introduction… 

Presentation 1 - Anesthesia Information Management Systems (AIMS) from theory to implementation

Presented by: Professor Enrico Coiera, Foundation Chair, Medical Informatics, Director, Centre for Health Informatics, University of New South Wales, Coogee, Australia

Click here to view and listen to  Professor Coiera's presentation… 

Presentation 2 - Anesthesia Information Management Systems: Historical Aspects and the American Experience

Presented by: Dr Robert Stoelting, President, Board of Directors, Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, Indianapolis, IN

Click here to view and hear  Dr. Stoelting's presentation…  

Presentation 3 - The Trials and Tribulations of Implementing an Electronic Anesthesia Record

Presented by: Dr J.N. Armstrong, Head, Department of Anesthesia, Calgary Health Region and University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Click here to view and hear  Dr. Armstrong's presentation…  

Panel Discussion

Professor Enrico Coiera, Dr. Robert Stoelting, Dr. J.N. Armstrong

Click here to view and hear the  Panel Discussion…  

Sponsored by Draeger Medical Canada Inc through an unrestricted educational grant