Who are Anesthesia Technicians, Certified Anesthesia Technicians and Certified Anesthesia Technologists? 
The entry level
Anesthesia Technician assists the Anesthesiologist,
Anesthesiologist Assistant, CRNA and the O.R. circulating nurse (R.N.). There are three levels of hierarchy in the Anesthesia Technician’s profession: Anesthesia Technician (A.T.) to Certified Anesthesia Technician (Cer.A.T.) to Certified Anesthesia Technologist (Cer.A.T.T.).
The Anesthesia Technician and Anesthesia Technologist is a strong and growing profession with their own society (ASATT), By Laws, their own official publication magazine, annually conference meeting both clinical & technical, accredited schools obtaining a 1 year certification, 2 year Associate Degree in Science (health), and 5 year Bachelor of Science Degree in Anesthesia Technology (Stony Brook in New York). The Anesthesia Technician / Anesthesia Technologist’s Liaison consists of an: ASA-Anesthesiologist M.D.A., AANA/C.R.N.A., and hopefully soon to be American Society of Anesthesiologist Assistants – (AAAA), Anesthesiologist Assistant (A.A.-C).
The
Anesthesia Technician / Anesthesia Technologist Certification Test Development and Test Writing Committee consists of an Anesthesiologist MDA, CRNA, a professor of Anesthesia Education, PAs, a corporate representative, Certified Anesthesia Technician and Certified Anesthesia Technologist. In the Anesthesia Technician’s scope of practice, the Anesthesia Technician / Anesthesia Technologist can perform Technical & Clinical skills such as operating, training and teaching trouble shooting techniques with anesthesia machines, Intra Aortic Balloon pump machines (counter pulsation procedures), cell saver machines, level one auto rapid machines, F.M.S. auto rapid machines, R.I.S. machines and IMed Pumps. The Anesthesia Technician / Anesthesia Technologist are also certified in BCLS, ACLS,& PALS, they operate cardiac output monitors, obtain PA wedge pressures (Swan-Ganz catheter line), obtain cardiac calculation out put from patients and read back numbers to the MDA,CRNA, or AA-C (under supervision). The Anesthesia Technician or Anesthesia Technologist start IVs and start Arterial Lines under supervision of an Anesthesiologist M.D. Anesthesia Technician’s are "trained" and "certified" by the MDAs and Hospitals. Anesthesia Technician’s and Anesthesia Technologist’s can mentor and train lower level technicians, nurses, medical students, and anesthesia residents on anesthesia technology procedures.
In closing, the
Anesthesia Technician or Anesthesia Technologist works within their "scope of practice" and this practice depends on the particular state where the Anesthesia Technician or Anesthesia Technologist resides. The Anesthesia Technician and Anesthesia Technologist are highly knowledgeable, skilled, respected and competent members of the
Anesthesia Care Team. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anesthesiologist Assistant Resource Websites:www.AnesthesiologistAssistant.comwww.AnesthesiaAssistant.comwww.AnesthesiaTechnician.comwww.AnesthesiaCareTeam.comwww.AnesthesiaDirectory.comwww.AnesthetistForum.comwww.CRNAJobSearch.com
Edited by JCole - 02 Oct 2009 at 3:26pm
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FACT!, There are many other allied and nursing health care professionals who function
as a Certified Anesthesia Technicians or Anesthesia Technologists and they are RRT, RCP, LVN, LPN, RN, PM, EMT, Cpht
& ST. Fact! There are Certified Anesthesia Technicians / Anesthesia Technologists who are CPHT (Certified
Pharmacy Technician as well). I hope this help people interested in learning more about 
