I jumped at the opportunity to meet Dr. John Keating because he’s an anesthesiologist, and I have an intense fear of anesthesia. I immediately share my phobia with him as we walk through Sansum Clinic’s new Foothill Surgery Center, where he is medical director, but he tells me I’m not alone. “People are afraid of losing control,” says Dr. Keating with an easygoing smile, his genuine, caring demeanor putting me totally at ease.
In his practice, he makes a point of showing his patients the anesthesia equipment, answering their questions, and demystifying the experience. It’s important to be honest and personable, he says, and he’s careful that his patients don’t really notice the mask being placed on or removed.
Dr. Keating helped design the Foothill Surgery Center, an outpatient facility offering surgical care that’s more affordable and convenient than overnight hospital stays. He’s extremely proud of a machine inside the center that makes pure air, and of “The Wave,” an electronic, easily accessible health record system that provides complete documentation of the care patients receive.