Clinical Component

Navigating the Clinical Component

Mercy Medical Center’s new in-house anesthesiology team will provide comprehensive anesthesia services across multiple locations, supporting a high-volume, high-acuity surgical hospital. With 21 daily anesthesia lines, anesthesiologists will have a diverse and engaging case mix, while also playing a key role in department development and workflow optimization.

Primary Clinical Duties

Administer anesthesia for a broad range of procedures across multiple specialties, including:
General Surgery – Bread-and-butter cases with some complex surgical oncology cases.
Orthopedics & Spine – Includes total joint replacements and spinal procedures.
Urology – A significant volume, with Mercy being the larger urology practice in the area.
Obstetrics & Gynecology (OBGYN) – Mercy delivers ~15 births per week, with 4-5 C-sections and 1-2 VBACs per month.
Neurosurgery – Elective spine and cranial cases.
Cardiology Procedures – Includes TEE, EP procedures, and occasional Cath Lab support.
Oncology-Related Surgeries – Mercy is one of three facilities in Iowa with GYN oncology services and has the busiest breast surgeon in the state.
Perform regional anesthesia and pain management procedures, including nerve blocks, epidurals, and acute pain management.
Rotate between various procedural areas, ensuring a balanced and diverse work environment:
Main OR (9-13 Active ORs Daily) – High surgical volume with a strong general surgery and oncology presence.
Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) – Includes outpatient procedures and ophthalmology, with future CRNA integration.
Endoscopy Suites (5 Active Rooms Daily) – CRNA-supported, focusing on high-turnover GI cases.
OB Unit – Involves epidurals and anesthesia support for C-sections and VBACs.
Cath Lab, MRI, and Interventional Radiology – Dedicated “off-site” anesthesia provider rotates to these areas.
Supervise and collaborate with CRNAs, who will initially be utilized in Endoscopy, ASC, and potentially Ophthalmology.

Case Mix & Workflow

High Surgical Volume – Mercy averages 1,200+ surgical cases per month, requiring efficient workflow and strong team collaboration.
Dedicated Specialty Coverage – Anesthesiologists are typically assigned to a specific location per shift to minimize unnecessary transitions.
Off-Site Coverage Rotation – One anesthesiologist per day will handle non-OR cases such as MRI, Cath Lab, and EP procedures, ensuring seamless procedural anesthesia coverage.
Minimal Overnight Emergency Cases – After-hours surgical cases are rare, with most urgent procedures occurring before 11 PM.

Future Growth & Expansion

As Mercy Medical Center continues expanding its surgical capabilities, anesthesiologists will have opportunities to:

Guide CRNA utilization expansion into ASC and Ophthalmology.
Develop enhanced pain management protocols and increase efficiency in regional anesthesia services.
Increase case complexity and procedural volume through surgical program growth in key areas such as cardiothoracic, urology, and oncology.
Collaborate on department strategy and workflow improvements to ensure seamless perioperative care.

This role is ideal for experienced anesthesiologists who enjoy clinical variety, a high procedural volume, and the opportunity to help shape a new department from the ground up.