Anesthesiology

An anesthesiologist is a medical physician who specializes in preoperative care, anesthesia administration, and pain medicine. They design anesthesia plans, monitor vital body functions during surgery, manage post-operative pain, and care for critically ill patients in intensive care units. Anesthesiologists complete four years of medical school, a four-year residency in anesthesiology, and pass board certification exams to earn their MD or DO credentials. They are trained to handle medical emergencies and manage patients undergoing complex surgical procedures.

Finding an anesthesiologist's NPI number is crucial for processing medical billing claims for surgeries and medical procedures. Insurance companies require the anesthesiologist's NPI on claims to pay for anesthesia services, which are billed separately from the surgeon's fees. The NPPES registry verifies the physician's active license, board certification, and taxonomy category. Checking the NPI helps billing offices submit clean claims and helps patients verify that their anesthesia provider is in-network, preventing surprise medical bills.