Center for Perioperative Medicine FAQs

Perioperative medicine is a multi-disciplinary approach that encompasses the entire continuum of care for patients undergoing surgery, interventions, or invasive procedures. The goal of perioperative medicine is to improve patient outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality rates throughout the perioperative period. Perioperative medicine emphasizes coordination among anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses, specialists, and other medical professionals involved in any phase of perioperative care.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Board of Directors approved the creation of a Center for Perioperative Medicine (CPMed) in 2022 as an organizational strategy for the long-term development of ASA’s initiatives and goal setting in perioperative medicine. CPMed aims to 1) accelerate the adoption of perioperative medicine as a distinct specialty, 2) address the perioperative policy needs of hospitals and health systems, and 3) serve as the leading authority on anesthesia-based issues in perioperative medicine and offer a collaborative platform for stakeholders in this specialty.

CPMed develops educational materials, works toward increasing the perioperative medicine content in residency and fellowship curricula and convenes stakeholders to establish greater collaboration and amplify the tenants of perioperative medicine.

In 2024, the Center will convene its Perioperative Stakeholder Summit at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024 in Philadelphia, PA. This first-of-its-kind event will bring together stakeholder organizations to discuss various issues in perioperative care and identify future opportunities for collaboration.

CPMed supports several sessions at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024. These CPMed Supported Sessions will provide learners with a roadmap for developing and implementing multidisciplinary perioperative care pathways.

CPMed’s efforts are already underway to work with the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) in increasing perioperative medicine content in the anesthesiology residency curriculum.

Currently, CPMed promotes perioperative medicine and the role of anesthesiologists in this care. This approach is intended to also provide opportunities for all perioperative medical professionals to collaborate, learn, and implement best practices to improve perioperative outcomes.