Clinical Expertise
Specialized Expertise in High-Risk Obstetric Anesthesia
Providing specialized anesthetic care for complex pregnancies requires careful planning, evidence-based clinical decisions, and effective collaboration among multidisciplinary teams.
Dr. Jason G. Hirsch's clinical and academic work at UCLA focuses on high-risk obstetric anesthesia, maternal safety, and perioperative quality improvement. His areas of expertise include hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, obstetric hemorrhage, cardiovascular disease in pregnancy, and enhanced recovery after cesarean delivery.
Preeclampsia & Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
Specialized anesthetic management for complex hypertensive conditions.
Severe preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy can present significant challenges during labor, delivery, and the perioperative period.
Dr. Hirsch's clinical focus includes anesthetic considerations for patients with severe preeclampsia, with an emphasis on maternal safety, careful clinical assessment, and evidence-based management.
Areas of focus:
Anesthetic considerations for severe preeclampsia
Management considerations for pregnancy-related hypertension
Perioperative planning for complex obstetric conditions
Clinical education for residents and fellows
Obstetric Hemorrhage & Emergency Preparedness
Strengthening readiness for major obstetric bleeding.
Major obstetric hemorrhage requires rapid recognition, coordinated teamwork, and access to appropriate resources. Dr. Hirsch has led the development of UCLA Santa Monica's rapid-infuser response protocol for massive obstetric hemorrhage.
His quality improvement work emphasizes clinical preparedness, staff education, and coordination with the blood bank.
Areas of focus:
Massive obstetric hemorrhage response protocols
Rapid-infuser preparedness and implementation
Blood bank coordination and transfusion planning
Staff training and multidisciplinary emergency response
High-Risk Cardio-Obstetric Anesthesia
Anesthetic considerations for pregnancy complicated by cardiovascular disease.
Pregnancy can place additional demands on the cardiovascular system, making individualized planning important for patients with significant cardiac conditions.
Dr. Hirsch contributes to multidisciplinary cardio-obstetric care through his involvement with UCLA's Cardio-Obstetric Committee.
Areas of focus:
Cardiovascular disease during pregnancy
Pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy
Anesthetic planning for complex maternal cardiac conditions
Coordination with multidisciplinary clinical teams
Enhanced Recovery After Cesarean Delivery
Evidence-based approaches to perioperative care and recovery.
Enhanced Recovery After Cesarean Section (ERACS) initiatives aim to improve the patient experience and optimize care before, during, and after cesarean delivery.
Dr. Hirsch established and continues to lead UCLA's ERACS initiative, supporting the development and refinement of evidence-based perioperative practices.
Areas of focus:
Perioperative care protocols for cesarean delivery
Evidence-based recovery pathways
Intraoperative and postoperative care optimization
Continuous quality improvement
Placenta Accreta Spectrum
Careful anesthetic planning for pregnancies associated with major hemorrhage risk.
Placenta accreta spectrum describes conditions in which the placenta attaches abnormally deeply to the uterine wall. These pregnancies may require complex delivery planning and coordinated multidisciplinary care.
Dr. Hirsch's experience includes anesthetic planning for patients with placenta accreta spectrum, with an emphasis on preparedness for significant bleeding and complex perioperative needs.
Areas of focus:
Pre-delivery anesthetic planning
Hemorrhage preparedness and transfusion coordination
Multidisciplinary coordination for complex deliveries
Perioperative risk assessment
Clinical Education & Quality Improvement
Advancing standards of care through education and clinical innovation.
Alongside clinical practice, Dr. Hirsch contributes to medical education and initiatives designed to improve the safety and effectiveness of obstetric anesthesia.
His academic work includes fellowship training, resident education, protocol development, and the evaluation of clinical practices.
Areas of focus:
Obstetric anesthesiology fellowship education
Resident and fellow teaching
Clinical protocol development
Maternal safety and quality improvement initiatives
Evidence-based clinical practice
Get in Touch
For professional, academic, or appropriate clinical inquiries, please contact:
Jason G. Hirsch, MD
Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine · UCLA Health · Santa Monica
Email: jhirsch@mednet.ucla.edu