Anesthesia Technology Update

The role of the anesthesia technologist is to expedite, facilitate, and support the clinical work done by the professional anesthesia personnel. Anesthesia technologists are trained to perform a wide range of skills. They are responsible for managing the anesthesia equipment and for its proper maintenance, including procurement, assembly, operation, troubleshooting, dismantling, and cleaning. Besides their everyday tasks, anesthesia techs at UPMC Presbyterian also have specialized responsibilities that require additional skills. These include operation of the blood cell saver, performance and evaluation of thromboelastrographs, and operation of the rapid-infusion system (RIS), including (under direction) titrating the RIS ratio for hemostability.

The responsibilities of anesthesia technologists have increased over the years, and the trend seems to favor increased demand for their specialized skills, along with greater awareness of anesthesia technology as a career.

All new staff anesthesia technologists at UPMC Presbyterian are graduates of an accredited school of Anesthesia Technology. Accredited programs are available at two Pittsburgh-area schools: Community College of Allegheny County and Western School of Health and Business. National certification is offered through the American Society of Anesthesia Technologist and Technicians (ASATT).

UPMC Presbyterian currently has a staff of 18 full-time anesthesia technologists. The team welcomes its newest member, Ms. Wendi Sterbacky, who started at UPMC Presbyterian on July 9. Wendi is a 2002 graduate of the Western School of Health and Business.

The Anesthesia Technology team at Presby also bids farewell to Mr. Clarence L. “Larry” Kinney, who leaves the team as he graduates from UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing and moves on to the next chapter of his life. Best wishes to Larry as he embarks on a new career in professional nursing.