Wilton Levine, MD

Position

Clinical Director; Instructor, Harvard Medical School

Clinical Specialty

Vascular anesthesia

Professional Activities

I am a clinical and administrative anesthesiologist in the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital. My primary interests involve patient safety, operating room efficiency, staff satisfaction and resident teaching and education.

As Clinical Director of the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine (DACCPM), I oversee the clinical activities of 135 anesthesia staff (80 FTEs) and 16 CRNAs working in our operating rooms. Our department is highly sub-specialized with each specialty run by a team leader. These team leaders compose the DACCPM Clinical Practice, Policy and Safety Committee (CPPSC), a committee that I chair. This group is critical to ensure safe clinical practice of anesthesia in our operating rooms, to review policy and set new policies. Currently, my focus with the CPPSC is to improve patient safety during the perioperative period.

My research focuses on the application of technology for enhancement of intra-OR patient safety. Currently, we are developing a technological solution to improve patient safety by creating a drug vial scanner/label printer to produce point-of-care syringe labels in the operating room. These labels will contain the drug name, concentration, user name, time and date along with appropriate color based on the ASA standard guidelines. It is our belief that such a solution will not only bring anesthesiologists into full compliance with national regulations and standards but also improve patient safety by adding additional visual and audible feedback during drug preparation and administration.

Clinically, I am active on the vascular anesthesia service and was active in the Best Practice Pilot Pod, a multi-disciplinary group of operating rooms working to define best practice in the perioperative environment. I was previously active clinically thoracic, OB and liver transplant surgical services. I also spend clinical time working in the OR of the Future and I devote a great deal of clinical time and effort on daily bi-directional feedback with students and residents and regularly complete student and resident evaluations.

Medical Training

• 7/2000-6/2001: Intern in Medicine, Department of Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell Campus
• 7/2001-6/2004: Resident in Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

Publications

1. Levine WC, Lee JJ, Black JH, Cambria RP, Davison JK. Thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair: anesthetic management. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 2005;43 (1):39-60.

2. Mashour GA, Levine WC, Ortiz V. Intra-operative Harlequin Syndrome. Anesthesia and Analgesia. 2006; 102:655.

3. Levine, WC. Mis-placed Pulmonary Artery Catheter. Anesthesia and Analgesia. 2006; accepted for publication.

Contact Information

Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care
55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-726-3891