#38 – The Master Anesthesia app with Matthew Willis, DNP, CRNA

Dr Matthew Willis is the CRNA who created and produces the educational app Master Anesthesia, which is available from the App Store and Google Play Store.   I’ve been using this app for the last several months and I’m super impressed at a few things: * it’s packed with real-world information that’s evidence based from case tips to pharmacology* the calculator is amazing… it’s so easy to use and gives you all the information you really need super fast.. more on that in just a sec* Matthew has made crowd-sourcing the continued build of the app super easy… he’s looking for people to contribute so the quality and scope of the app will continue to improve as more people make contributions.  It’s like a curated wikipedia app focused specifically on anesthesia content.  And you get recognition in the app for your contributions.  And lastly, the app is 100% free!  My other go-to anesthesia app cost me $100 and it only gives me half the information Master Anesthesia does.  I’d have to pay another $100 for access to the coexisting disease information.    I can’t say enough about how significant it is that Matthew has kept this app completely free for the anesthesia community and he continues to dump an incredible amount of personal time building it despite having a full time job and a family.  The Master Anesthesia app is quintessential free open access medical education or FOAM… a concept I recently talked about on the podcast in episode #34.  FOAM removes pay walls and financial barriers so healthcare providers – and importantly students and residents – can access leading content for free.  For the first 30 minutes of the discussion, we unpack the app and its features and in the back half of the interview, Matthew discusses how he started the app as his DNP project and what fuels his motivation now. So the app features a run down on common surgeries, pathologic conditions, anesthesia-related drugs and a super high-powered calculator.  This calculator is unlike anything I’ve seen; it really is unique.  It tells you everything from common vital signs, airway device sizing, tidal volumes, drug & fluid calculations and local anesthetic dosing all based on the weight and/or height of your patient.  The local anesthetics dosing also does combined medication dosing so you can rapidly see the remaining maximum dose amounts and volumes based on what’s already been given for any concentration of local you plan to give.  It’s amazing… if you only get the app to use the calculator, it would be worth your time & effort. Matthew Willis, DNP, CRNA has a background in finance, web and mobile design.  He received his undergraduate degree in nursing from Boise State University in 2014 and completed his doctor of nursing practice and anesthesia training at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in 2019.  He currently works as an independent anesthesia provider in Iowa and has a wife and 4 children.   I reached out to Matthew after I made suggestion on content within the app and he graciously agreed to come on Anesthesia Guidebook to share his story.  Again, Matthew currently is not making any revenue off Master Anesthesia and I have no financial connection with Matthew or this app… this episode is just good ole’ storytelling with no conflicts of interest.  App Store Link:  https://apps.apple.com/app/id1550793078#?platform=iphone Google Play Link: https://play.google.