---
title: The Impact of Anesthesiologist Situational Awareness on Patient Safety and Liability Risk
description: Situational awareness is the “perception of the elements in the environment within a volume of space and time, the comprehension of their meaning and the projection of their status in the near future.”
image: https://files.norcal-group.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202020-03-31%20at%2011.15.00%20AM.png
---

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# [***CLAIMS Rx*** DIRECTORY](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx)

## RISK MANAGEMENT PUBLICATION

# The Impact of Anesthesiologist Situational Awareness on Patient Safety and Liability Risk

March 2018

Situational awareness is the “perception of the elements in the environment within a volume of space and time, the comprehension of their meaning and the projection of their status in the near future.” Situational awareness can reduce the risk of patient injuries and thereby decrease liability risk exposure. Looking at anesthesia liability claims through a situational awareness framework provides a fresh patient safety and risk management perspective that focuses on physician thought processes.

| **CASE ONE AND TWO ** Perception Errors **CASE THREE AND FOUR**  Comprehension Errors | **CASE FIVE AND SIX** Projection Errors |
| --- | --- |

 

**Related Topics:** [Surgery](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/surgery), [Cognitive Errors](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/cognitive-errors), [Obesity](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/obesity), [Anesthesiology](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/anesthesiology)

situational awareness,anesthesiology,ASA,sedation,sleep apnea,ASA category,comorbidities,surgical clearance,anchoring bias,confirmation bias,attentional bias,cognitive tunneling,inattentional blindness,zebra retreat,anesthesiologist,oxygen saturation,respiratory status,monitor malfunction,heuristics,cognitive load,rule of three,rule out worst case,cognitive forcing,metacognition,projection error,extubation,intubation,extubate,intubate,resuscitation,endotracheal tube

![March 2018](https://files.norcal-group.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202020-03-31%20at%2011.15.00%20AM.png "March 2018")

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