Barbara Orlando, MD, PhD, FASA

Answers reviewed by Dr. Orlando

• How should lawmakers and reporters evaluate claims about rural anesthesia access?

  Assess whether patients can obtain timely, high quality, clinically appropriate anesthesia services close to home using county-level staffing, procedure volume, travel, transfers, facility capability, and outcome data. Licensure or scope changes do not establish...

• What pain-relief options are available during labor and delivery?

  Labor pain relief may include an epidural, combined spinal-epidural technique, certain medications, and nonmedication methods. The safest and most effective option depends on your preferences, medical situation, and how labor is progressing.

• What resources are needed for safe anesthesia care during childbirth?

  Safe obstetric anesthesia requires qualified clinicians, monitoring, emergency airway and resuscitation capability, coordinated obstetric and nursing care, and rapid access to blood products and surgery when needed. Rural facilities also need reliable escalation and...