title: Survey of anesthesiologists practicing in American neurointensive care units as neurointensivists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A group of anesthesiologists practice as intensivists in neurointensive care units (NeuroICU). The current nature and implications of the role of anesthesiology-based neurointensivist remain unclear. The purpose of this survey was to assess today's practice environment of anesthesiology-based neurointensivists as a framework for future study.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period between January 2011 and March 2011, we identified anesthesiologists who provide patient care in specialized NeuroICUs in the United States. We used an online, 15-question survey to gauge the environment and their role in the delivery of care to critically ill patients admitted to NeuroICUs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 104 NeuroICUs in the United States, 22 institutions include anesthesiology-based neurointensivists (n=41). With a response from 33 of 41 requested surveys, anesthesiology-based neurointensivists reported that background training and roles for providing patient care in the NeuroICU setting varied widely between institutions. In contrast, these practices were similar in providing 24-hour coverage (76%), working with neurosurgical (88%) and anesthesiology residents (85%), and having critical-care fellowship training (97%). Almost all surveyed individuals practice both neurocritical care and anesthesia in the operating room, and 76% reported satisfaction with their working environment in the NeuroICU relative to other responsibilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anesthesiology-based neurointensivists currently represent a small subgroup within the rapidly growing neurointensivist workforce in the United States and consider neurocritical care a valuable aspect of their career. Promoting subspecialty training in neurocritical care among anesthesiologists may provide an opportunity for new patient-care frontiers and address the increasing need for NeuroICU physicians.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Anesthesiology †Medicine (Neurology) ‡Brain Injury Translational Research Center, Duke University, Durham, NC §Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Neurologic Surgery and Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dority
authors.forename: Marisa C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Steven T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Bellows
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: McDonagh
authors.forename: Ansgar M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brambrink
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce