Standardization of Neuroanesthesia Education: Need of the Hour and the Way Forward

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review illustrates the evolution and progress with standardization of fellowship education in neuroanesthesiology. It provides a structured discussion around the need for curricula and framework which individual training programs in neuroanesthesiology can use to meet defined educational standards thus meeting criteria for accreditation.

Recent findings: Neuroanesthesiology training has traditionally been heterogenous around the world but international efforts from the community of neuroanesthesiology have culminated in the development of an international council for perioperative training in neuroscience in anesthesiology(ICPNT). This serves not only as an accrediting body but also creates a platform through their neuroanesthesia program relations committee for collaboration and engagement between various training programs internationally, increasing the educational standards of the individual programs and collectively increasing the overall level of standards for neuroanesthesia training. Standardized curriculum and competency-based assessments and milestones would help with narrowing the focus to quality education in neuroanesthesiology.

Summary: Structured training around the three pillars of neuroanesthesiology with concomitant accreditation is expected to lead to higher education standards with better patient care. The SNACC created milestones for neuroanesthesiology training during residency and the ICPNT can now use this as a foundation for fellowship training. Having a council to accredit and standardize will likely become indispensable in creating a set path for training in neuroanesthesiology. Additionally, the flexibility built in due to the international nature would allow modified and variable pathways depending upon individual capabilities and interests. The path forward will include widespread adoption of standardization supporting the overarching goal of excellent patient outcomes around the world.

Keywords: Accreditation of Neuroanesthesia Fellowships; Competencies; Curriculum; Milestones; Neuroanesthesia education; Neuroanesthesia fellowships; Neuroanesthesiology; Neurosurgical procedures; Perioperative neuroscience training; Standardization of education.

Fig. 1

Facilitation of an interprogram network by the ICPNT. Traditional vs. ICPNT network-driven communication pathway between accrediting organization and accredited academic programs. Currently accredited institutions: Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Beijing, China; Cleveland clinic Foundation, Cleveland, USA; Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA; Duke University, Durham, USA; Hospital Universitario Fundación Santafe de Bogotá, Bogota, Columbia; Northwestern University, Chicago, USA; Odense University, Denmark; Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia; Technical University Munich School of Medicine, Munich, Germany; Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; University college of London, London, UK; Universitat de Barcelona Neuroanesthesiology, Barcelona, Spain; University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA; University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA; University of Colorado, Denver, USA; University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA; University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, USA; University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, USA; Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA; Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA.