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Anesthesiologist Mock Interview

Question 14 of 35 for our Anesthesiologist Mock Interview

Anesthesiologist was updated by on June 15th, 2023. Learn more here.

Question 14 of 35

What precautions do you take for a patient with poor health?

Poor health is any falling away from the ideal candidate for anesthesia, which is designated ASA Classification I. Thus, poor health extends from Classification II through V. These classifications have been devised to do just that--institute precautions in a patient in poor health. This question isn't about your knowledge of the ASA criteria list, but how you deal with risk in the patient-doctor relationship. Preop discussions will be different from ASA I through V, which are based on the education you give to your patient. Let the interviewer know that you gear your procedure counseling to make the patient aware of complications possible and the importance of before- and after-care instructions.

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How to Answer: What precautions do you take for a patient with poor health?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Anesthesiologist job interview.

  • 14. What precautions do you take for a patient with poor health?

      How to Answer

      Poor health is any falling away from the ideal candidate for anesthesia, which is designated ASA Classification I. Thus, poor health extends from Classification II through V. These classifications have been devised to do just that--institute precautions in a patient in poor health. This question isn't about your knowledge of the ASA criteria list, but how you deal with risk in the patient-doctor relationship. Preop discussions will be different from ASA I through V, which are based on the education you give to your patient. Let the interviewer know that you gear your procedure counseling to make the patient aware of complications possible and the importance of before- and after-care instructions.

      Written by Rachelle Enns

      Entry Level Example

      "I have been taught that when a patient has high-risk factors I must take the time to explain the risks to them beforehand. I will educate him or her what my treatment entails and how it is expected to go, with the understanding that complications are always possible. I will make liberal use of corroboration from a more experienced anesthesiologist if there is any hesitancy or uncertainty in my plan."

      Written by Rachelle Enns

      Answer Example

      "The day before a procedure I schedule an appointment with my patient to explain the procedure and to discuss his or her awareness and knowledge of the risks and benefits of the planned procedure; if the patient is in poor health, I also shift from his or her knowledge of the risk v benefit to what I can explain about the anesthesia risk v benefit as it applies to the surgery and poor health. It's also important that on the day of the procedure, I make all staff aware of any information that makes this patient a high risk so that everyone is extra vigilant."

      Written by Jaymie Payne on June 7th, 2023

      Experienced Example

      "A question to always ask is whether the patient is better or worse off undergoing surgery with anesthesia. The next question to ask is if the patient is aware of whether he or she is better or worse off having it. My obligation, besides using prudent safeguards according to the ASA risk categories, is to educate the patient so that we can partner with each other for the best outcome."

      Written by Rachelle Enns