As an anesthesia provider, my job is to be the chief safety officer in the operating suite. I help keep the patient alive and make a surgical procedure bearable for the patient. At the same time, I'm always thinking about what might go wrong, how I can prevent it and how I might prepare for a time when, inevitably, complications arise. Preparation pays off. Often when things start to go wrong, I've already dealt with the situation before the staff notices or the patient is hurt. Here are eight ways you and your anesthesia provider can make your perioperative care safer and more effective.