FAQ2020-04-19T23:55:23+00:00

Frequently Asked Questions

Glasses on a legal document
What is your primary activity?2020-04-16T16:55:14+00:00

I am a full-time clinical anesthesiologist in Chico, California. As the county hospital for Butte County, I see a broad variety of patients from my community and from the surrounding area as they present. I see for everything from scheduled routine procedures to very complex emergencies.

What further training have you received?2020-04-16T16:54:42+00:00

I completed a fellowship in cardiovascular and thoracic anesthesia from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, at the time one of the busiest such fellowships in the United States. While there I was able to train with some of the most prominent intra-operative echocardiographers in the country. At the end of that training, and after further testing, I was made a diplomat of the American Society of Echocardiography.

What advantage does having done a fellowship in cardiovascular and thoracic anesthesia provide?2020-04-16T16:54:07+00:00

Being involved with the patient population that presents for the level of care that these procedures involve means doing a larger number of invasive vascular access procedures. It further means that the techniques necessary to provide that care are studied and practiced much more frequently than they might be in a patient population with less morbidity.

What is trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) and how does it help you in your practice?2020-04-16T16:53:23+00:00

TEE is a monitor that uses sound-waves to image the beating heart and assess the function of the muscle, the chambers, and the valves. I use it during every cardiovascular case in which I’m involved as a routine monitor. Occasionally, however, I’m called upon to use it while taking care of patients who are having non-cardiac surgery and there are times when I am asked to consult on non-surgical patients for whom a diagnosis is being sought.

What other responsibilities do you have in your practice?2020-04-16T16:52:52+00:00

While not formally part of a residency training program, I am still involved with teaching students airway management techniques. I am involved with the information technologies department as we implement and upgrade our electronic medical records. I have served as a clinical officer in our group where I worked to improve our department’s ability to interface with other departments and to maximize the efficiency of our operating rooms.

What is Locum Tenens work and how does that work factor into your experience?2020-04-16T16:52:16+00:00

Locum Tenens refers to a temporary work assignment of physicians – such as vacation coverage, maternity leave, or a variety of other reasons. Having worked in multiple facilities, with multiple surgeons, and with many different patient populations, I have come to appreciate both the similarities and the subtleties of anesthesia practice.

In which States are you licensed?2020-04-16T16:51:37+00:00

I have active licenses in Texas, Georgia, Missouri, and California. In the past I have also worked in Pennsylvania and Tennessee as a Locum’s provider.

What is your experience in organ donation?2020-04-16T16:50:35+00:00

As part of my training, I have provided anesthesia care for both organ donors and for their recipients. I continue to be actively involved with this process in northern California where I provide compassionate care to those patients who chose to make that gift.

What types of procedures does your practice routinely include?2020-04-16T16:49:52+00:00

On a daily basis my practice sees a variety of general, ENT, OB-GYN, neurosurgical, orthopedic, colo-rectal, vascular, urologic, thoracic, and cardiac surgical cases. While I am on call, I routinely see any of the above along with acute trauma cases.

What conditions are you treating in your practice?2020-04-16T16:49:17+00:00

I see a variety of patients in my practice. Although as the population continues to advance in age and in the number of co-morbid conditions, I see an increasing number of less healthy patients. For a variety of reasons, I see more patients with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and degenerative diseases of the spine and joints. These patients often require multiple techniques to be employed in order to minimize possible complications and to maximize patient satisfaction.

What types of cases are you available to testify?2020-04-16T16:48:34+00:00

I’m available to work on cases involving an anesthesiologist. The issues I may be called upon to address include the standard of care, breach, and causation.

Are you available to serve both plantiffs and defendants?2022-02-27T14:37:22+00:00

Yes. I’m available to serve as an anesthesiology expert witness for both plaintiff and defense.

How long does it take you to complete an initial case review?2020-04-16T16:47:18+00:00

After I am provided with the required records for the case. I usually strive to have my initial review completed in less than two weeks.

What training have your completed regarding serving as an expert witness?2020-04-16T16:46:34+00:00

I have completed training courses specialized in the field of anesthesiology from SEAK, Inc., The Expert Witness Training Company.

How can I contact you?2020-04-16T16:45:49+00:00

Fill out my form, send me an email (info@robertertnermd.com) or call me on my cell at 408.840.4406. I strive to return all inquiries within 24 hours or sooner depending on my call and surgical schedule.

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