A Sedation Team Approach

The administrative organization of a pediatric procedural sedation service is guided by Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations. CMS specifically allows, within the broader regulations, institution-specific policies and structures to be developed and applied to the needs of the patient population served and institutional staff available. The sedation team approach has both advantages and disadvantages when compared to a sedation unit approach. A sedation team allows more flexibility to function outside the four walls of one set unit. The providers who deliver the sedation may vary within the team. Although there are many ways to structure a sedation team, the key to success is having a flexible yet well-organized approach that works in the given system and meets the needs of the patients who need procedural sedation care.