NAC449.388. Anesthesia services.

     1. If a hospital furnishes anesthesia services, the services must be provided in a well-organized manner under the direction of a qualified doctor of medicine or osteopathy. The service is responsible for all anesthesia administered in the hospital.

     2. The organization of the anesthesia service must be appropriate to the scope of the services offered by the hospital. Anesthesia may only be administered by:

     (a) A qualified anesthesiologist;

     (b) A doctor of medicine or osteopathy, other than an anesthesiologist;

     (c) A dentist, oral surgeon or podiatrist who is legally authorized, under state law, to administer anesthesia; or

     (d) A certified registered nurse anesthetist who is under the direction of the operating practitioner or of an anesthesiologist who is immediately available if needed. This paragraph does not affect the requirements for qualification as a certified registered nurse anesthetist as specified in chapter 632 of NRS, and any regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

     3. Anesthesia services must be consistent with the needs and resources of the hospital. Policies on anesthesia procedures must include the delineation of preanesthesia and postanesthesia responsibilities. The policies must ensure that each patient receives:

     (a) A preanesthesia evaluation by a person qualified to administer anesthesia, as set forth in subsection 2, that must be performed within 48 hours before surgery.

     (b) An intraoperative anesthesia record.

     (c) For inpatients, a postanesthesia follow-up report by the person who administered the anesthesia. The follow-up report must be written not later than 48 hours after the surgery.

     (d) For outpatients, a postanesthesia evaluation for proper anesthesia recovery, performed in accordance with the policies and procedures approved by the medical staff.

     4. If the hospital does not have a department of anesthesia, the department of surgery is responsible for the organization and implementation of the policies and procedures relating to the provision of anesthesia services.

     [Bd. of Health, Health Facilities Reg. Part III Ch. I § XI subsec. B, eff. 10-9-69]—(NAC A by R050-99, 9-27-99)