Frequently Asked Questions

Schenectady Anesthesia Associates is a specialized medical practice that focuses on administering anesthesia to patients undergoing surgical procedures.

General Anesthesia:  During general anesthesia, you are unconscious with no awareness of your surgical procedure. Anesthetic medications may be administered directly through your IV or inhaled through a breathing mask or tube.  At the conclusion of your surgery,  these medications are stopped or reversed and you typically wake up soon after arriving in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).

Regional Anesthesia:  Regional anesthesia blocks the transmission of nerve impulses to a specific area of the body.  This procedure is performed by injecting local anesthetic (numbing medicine) along a selected nerve pathway.  Before receiving the injection, you may be given a mild sedative through your intravenous line to reduce discomfort from the injection and decrease any anxiety you may be experiencing.  This sedation may continue during your surgery inducing you into a light sleep.  The most common types of regional anesthesia are:

     ·  Spinal Anesthesia:  Spinal anesthesia is administered by injecting a small amount of local anesthetic (numbing medicine) and sometimes pain medicine into the spinal fluid.  The injection is usually in the lower back (lumbar region).

     ·  Epidural:  An epidural is an injection into the space surrounding the spinal canal.  Once the needle is placed, a very small tube can be threaded through the needle.  The needle is then removed and the tube (catheter) will remain in the epidural space.  Local anesthetic (numbing medicine) and pain medicine can be injected through the tubing in intermittent doses or as a continuous infusion via a pump.  

     ·  Peripheral Nerve Blocks:  Peripheral nerve blocks are performed for extremity (arm, hand, feet, and leg) procedures, most commonly for outpatient orthopedic surgery.  A needle is placed and local anesthetic (numbing medicine) is injected near the specific group of nerves affecting the operative area.  These nerve blocks will cause numbness and decrease motor ability in your extremity.  This sensation may last from 2-24 hours after your injection depending on the type of local anesthetic and site of  injection.

Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC):  MAC is used for patients undergoing 

uncomfortable procedures or surgeries that do not require general anesthesia.  Sedatives and other medications are administered intravenously to provide pain control and relaxation. Your anesthesia care provider will be with you at all times to continually monitor your vital signs, comfort and sedation level. 

At Schenectady Anesthesia Associates, patient safety is our top priority. We use state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and follow strict protocols that adhere to national standards to ensure patient safety during anesthesia.

Prior to your surgery, you will meet with your anesthesiologist and discuss your health, medications, allergies and history of previous surgeries and anesthetics.  You will have the opportunity to ask questions and talk over any concerns you may have regarding your anesthesia and postoperative pain control.  After speaking with you and your surgeon, your anesthesiologist will decide on an anesthesia care plan that is safe and appropriate for your surgical procedure and physical condition.  Your personal preferences are important factors and will be considered in determining your plan of care.

Your anesthesia care team are members of a private practice and their charges are separate from the hospital and surgeon billing.  Schenectady Anesthesia Associates accepts payments from Medicare, Medicaid, No-Fault, Workers Compensation, Managed Care Providers and Commercial payers.  We participate with most local and national payers like, Blue Shield, CDPHP, The Empire Plan, Empire Blue Cross, Fidelis, Medicare/Medicaid, MVP, Tricare and United Healthcare.

We will bill your insurance carrier for you whether we participate with your insurance or not, however it is your responsibility to pay co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles.  If we do not participate with your insurance carrier, you may be responsible for a larger portion of the bill. We will provide an estimate to you of anticipated costs based on the type and length of the planned procedure.  

If you do not have insurance, our business office will work with you to provide a quote for your anesthesia care and make payment arrangements.  Our business office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 4 pm  You can reach a member of our billing team at   (518) 374-3123.