Healthcare Acronyms

American Society of Anesthesiologists

An educational, research, and scientific association of physicians organized to raise the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and to improve patient care. ASA also created the Physical Status Classification System for pre-anesthetized patients:

• ASA Physical Status 1 - A normal healthy patient
• ASA Physical Status 2 - A patient with mild systemic disease
• ASA Physical Status 3 - A patient with severe systemic disease
• ASA Physical Status 4 - A patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
• ASA Physical Status 5 - A moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the operation
• ASA Physical Status 6 - A declared brain-dead patient whose organs are being removed for donor purposes