Regulatory & Safety Information
Anaesthesia Companion — Intended Use, Limitations & Safety
App Identification
| App Name | Anaesthesia Companion |
|---|---|
| Version | v2.1.0 |
| Release Date | May 2026 |
| Platform | Progressive Web Application (PWA) |
| Developer | Dr. Danial Hussain, WGH Anaesthesia Department |
|---|---|
| Contact | hussain.danial@gmail.com |
| App Type | Clinical reference & educational resource |
| Last Content Review | May 2026 (v2.1.0) |
Intended Purpose
Anaesthesia Companion is a clinical reference and educational resource for anaesthesia and critical care professionals at Wexford General Hospital. It brings together guidelines, protocols, algorithms, and teaching materials in one accessible place.
What it provides
- Guideline and protocol reference text (DAS, ASRA, AAGBI, ALS, OAA/RCOA)
- Anticoagulation timing reference tables (ASRA 5th Ed.)
- Emergency algorithm reference (QRH 2023, ALS/Resus Council UK)
- Airway management algorithm summaries (DAS guidelines)
- Labour analgesia protocols (OAA/RCOA)
- Perioperative medication management reference
- ROTEM-guided haemorrhage pathway reference
- Departmental protocols and teaching materials
- Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines
What it is not
- A clinical decision-making tool or calculator
- A substitute for clinical judgement or direct patient assessment
- A diagnostic or prescribing tool
- A replacement for current BNF, SPC, or institutional protocols
- A system for storing or processing identifiable patient data
- Suitable for use by non-healthcare professionals without supervision
- A definitive source — all content must be confirmed against current standards
Intended Users
Primary Users
- Consultant anaesthetists
- Specialist registrars in anaesthesia
- Senior house officers in anaesthesia
- Anaesthesia trainees and medical students (supervised)
- Critical care physicians
- Advanced nurse practitioners in anaesthesia
Typical Settings
- Operating theatres and anaesthetic rooms
- Post-anaesthesia care units (PACU / recovery)
- Intensive care units (ICU)
- Labour ward and obstetric theatre
- Preoperative assessment clinics
- Self-directed study and exam preparation
Instructions for Use
Before Use
- Confirm you are a qualified healthcare professional or supervised trainee.
- Ensure you have a stable connection for up-to-date content.
- Verify the app version in the footer matches the current release.
- Do not use this app as your sole reference — always cross-check with BNF, SPC, and local protocols.
During Use
- Review all content critically — no reference material overrides clinical judgement.
- For paediatric patients, confirm all information with a senior clinician.
- Always check that guidelines referenced are current for your institution.
- Do not enter patient identifiers into this app.
After Use
- Document clinical decisions in the patient record — not in this app.
- Report any discrepancies or errors to the developer promptly.
- Do not share screenshots of patient-related information outside your clinical record system.
- Check for updates by verifying the version shown in the footer.
Warnings & Known Limitations
Warnings
- Not a substitute for clinical judgement. All information is for reference and education only. The treating clinician bears full professional responsibility for all clinical decisions.
- Emergency situations: Always prioritise direct patient assessment and your institution's emergency protocols over any reference material.
- Paediatric use: All information regarding paediatric patients requires independent verification by a senior clinician.
- Pregnancy: Consult specialist obstetric anaesthesia references for drug use in pregnancy.
- Connectivity: Some features require internet access. Do not rely solely on this app in areas with unreliable connectivity.
Known Limitations
- Drug interactions are not assessed by this app. Always consult the BNF Interactions checker or a clinical pharmacist.
- ECMO parameters are guidance values only; specialist perfusionist and critical care input is required.
- AI tools (where present) use large language models and may produce plausible but inaccurate clinical content. All AI outputs require critical clinician review.
- Content currency: Guidelines are updated periodically. The last content audit was completed May 2026 (v2.1.0). Users should check for newer versions of referenced guidelines.
Data & Privacy
What data is collected
- No patient data is stored. This app does not collect, transmit, or retain any patient information.
- User acknowledgment preferences are stored in browser sessionStorage on your device only and cleared when the session ends.
- No cookies are used beyond those essential for PWA functionality.
- No analytics, tracking, or user profiling is performed.
- AI query text (if used) is processed by OpenAI API. Do not enter patient-identifiable information into AI queries.
Privacy by design
- Users are instructed not to enter patient identifiers — this is reinforced by the session acknowledgement.
- If a patient identifier is accidentally entered, it is not transmitted or retained beyond the current browser session.
- This app is deployed under WGH ICT governance and the HSE Data Protection Framework.
- For further details see the Privacy Policy.
Feedback & Error Reporting
Users are encouraged to report any concerns about app performance, clinical content errors, or unexpected behaviour. All reports are reviewed and addressed by the developer.
Clinical Content Error
Report incorrect information, outdated guidelines, or missing content.
Report ErrorDisclaimer
Anaesthesia Companion is an independent clinical reference and educational application developed by an individual clinician. It is not developed or endorsed by any hospital, health service, pharmaceutical company, or regulatory body.
All content is provided in good faith based on published evidence-based guidelines for educational and reference purposes only. The developer makes no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular clinical purpose. The developer accepts no liability for clinical decisions made on the basis of information provided by this app.
Users are solely responsible for verifying all information against current standards, institutional protocols, and their patient's individual clinical circumstances before any clinical application.