Picture yourself in a state-of-the-art regional anesthesia suite, ultrasound probe in hand, as you guide another perfect interscalene block for a rotator cuff repair. This isn't an occasional highlight of your week—it's your daily reality, where you'll perform 20–25 ultrasound-guided blocks each day, building and maintaining a level of regional expertise that most anesthesiologists only aspire to achieve. Unlike the scattered regional practice common in general hospitals—where you might perform a handful of blocks weekly between general cases—here your entire focus channels into perfecting the art and science of regional anesthesia for orthopedic surgery.
Your patient population represents the full spectrum of Louisiana's active community—from young athletes recovering from ACL tears to active seniors seeking joint replacements that restore their mobility. These aren't complex, multi-comorbidity cases that consume hours of optimization in hospital settings; these are motivated, generally healthy patients who have chosen outpatient surgery specifically for its efficiency and superior recovery profile. You'll find genuine satisfaction in seeing patients ambulate comfortably just hours after procedures that would traditionally require overnight admissions and significant opioid consumption.
The workflow here respects both efficiency and excellence. You'll begin each morning with pre-operative evaluations, quickly assessing patients who have already been screened and optimized for outpatient surgery. Then you'll move into your rhythm in the block room, where your expertise transforms potentially painful procedures into comfortable experiences. The CRNAs—seasoned professionals who understand and appreciate the value of excellent regional anesthesia—manage the intraoperative course while you remain available for consultation and continue your block schedule. This isn’t the stressful juggling act of trying to supervise multiple rooms while managing your own cases—it’s a purposeful, sustainable practice model designed for longevity.
Your 7 AM to 5 PM schedule reflects the reality of outpatient surgery: cases start on time, turnover is efficient, and everyone goes home at a reasonable hour. Compare this to the unpredictability of hospital-based practice where add-on trauma cases and emergency surgeries routinely destroy any semblance of work-life balance. Here, when your last block is placed and your final patient is comfortable, you're genuinely done for the day—no overnight call, no anxiety about tomorrow's emergency add-ons.
The upcoming regional anesthesia teaching program adds another dimension to your practice, offering the intellectual stimulation of education without the burdens of traditional academic medicine. You'll have the opportunity to shape the next generation of regional anesthesiologists, sharing your high-volume expertise with motivated learners who specifically seek out this rotation for its exceptional training value.