Anaesthesiology
The Importance of Quaternary Prevention in Anaesthesiology
Dr Rowan Molnar : The Importance of Quaternary Prevention in Anaesthesiology
Anaesthesiology is a rapidly growing science where numerous technically advanced equipment and new drugs with a higher safety margin have increased. This is reflected in the variety of instruments and medicines used in operation theatres and critical care units. In addition, anaesthesiologists now have the potential to create numerous combinations and permutations of drugs and procedures to enhance the safety and effectiveness of patient care. Such a scenario can be a bane as well as a boon since the increase in equipment mandates that anaesthesiologists and other staff in the operating room and critical care require to constantly updating their skills. At the same time it can increases the risk of errors.
A boon and a bane
The concept of quaternary prevention plays an integral role in such as scenario. For the most part, quaternary is defined as the measures taken to identify patients at risk of overmedication and to protect them from new medical invasion and to suggest ethically acceptable interventions. The concept has now been widely accepted in various branches of medicine. Specialists like Dr. Rowan Molnar believe that anaesthesiologists have the responsibility to ensure that quaternary prevention becomes routine in their practice. They must be able to take proactive measures to identify patients at risk of overmedication and wrong medication as well. Some of these procedures can lead to medication errors and side effects that can prove detrimental to a patient’s health.
A patient-centric approach
Dr. Rowan Molnar, a Staff Specialist Anaesthetist at Launceston General Hospital in Australia, is of the opinion that quaternary prevention can be achieved when initiated from pre-anaesthetic clinic where patients may have a prescription of unnecessary vitamins and alternative or complementary medicines. An effort must be made to reduce the use of drugs and pills at this stage. Patients can be encouraged to refrain from these medicines for health reasons since it could affect them in the peri-operative stage. It is also essential to ensure that patients do not stop necessary medications. Like many others in the field, Dr. Rowan Molnar believes that relevant investigations must be implemented to quantify the effects and side-effects of present medications. This helps in planning and formulating effective therapeutic strategies.
Written by professional authors who describe the detail of Dr. Rowan Molnar. For more information about Dr. Rowan Molnar visit Linkedin.