Jane Fitch MD, prior CRNA, now Anesthesiologist elected president ASA

Specialties CRNA

Published

Game over people... ASA president... Jane Fitch. Thoughts?

Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

It it really the best you can do? Come to a CRNA forum?

Really?

Specializes in Anesthesia.
"Obvious to everyone" if you have CRNA after your name.

As far as the AANA taking the "more professional route" - well, that's just laughable. This is the same AANA that is threatening to sue the ASA because they didn't like their response to a piece of CRNA propaganda published in The Hill a few months ago. Do you REALLY think Jay's piece was an objective, opinion-free, and based totally on incontrovertible facts? C'mon...

Jay's piece wasn't from the AANA. That was his personal piece.

Yes, there are many instances where the ASA uses half-truths and lies to make their points while trying to maintain their monopoly on group practices. Those same ACT practices that have shown to commit billing fraud everyday. The AANA only became involved with the Hill article when the ASA made libelous statements about CRNAs. The AANA expresses its' opinion, but can always back up claims with evidence which the ASA lacks.

Anesthesia assistant. I didn't know what they were before anesthesia school. Of course I also didn't know what a CRNA was before nursing school.

The AAs are limited to 16 or so states (maybe a little more). They cannot work independent of an anesthesiologist. Not sure if their practice is limited otherwise.

Anesthesiologist assistant. Although I do indeed practice with anesthesiologists, my practice is not "limited otherwise".

Jay's piece wasn't from the AANA. That was his personal piece.

Yes, there are many instances where the ASA uses half-truths and lies to make their points while trying to maintain their monopoly on group practices. Those same ACT practices that have shown to commit billing fraud everyday. The AANA only became involved with the Hill article when the ASA made libelous statements about CRNAs. The AANA expresses its' opinion, but can always back up claims with evidence which the ASA lacks.

Thats laughable. You haven't been doing this a fraction of the time I have. I have a very good memory of "half truths and lies" told by CRNAs about AAs to state legsislators over the years. The hypocrisy is astounding. I have yet to have a CRNA give a reasonable rationalization of how their tactics against AAs and expansion of AA practice are somehow reasonable while the perceived wrongs of the ASA rise to the level of libel.
Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

Anesthesiologist assistant. Although I do indeed practice with anesthesiologists, my practice is not "limited otherwise".

Yes anesthesiology assistant, my apologies.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
Thats laughable. You haven't been doing this a fraction of the time I have. I have a very good memory of "half truths and lies" told by CRNAs about AAs to state legsislators over the years. The hypocrisy is astounding. I have yet to have a CRNA give a reasonable rationalization of how their tactics against AAs and expansion of AA practice are somehow reasonable while the perceived wrongs of the ASA rise to the level of libel.

JWK prove it...

AAs do nothing to improve patient care. AAs were invented to try to control CRNA practice. AAs are nothing more than a political tool. AAs cannot function independently and cannot increase access to care.

CRNAs can and do function independently. CRNAs can work with any type of physician, surgeon, dentist, podiatrist etc. CRNAs have been around for 150 years. The AANA has been around longer than ASA or the AAAA. AAs must work under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist. The AANA posts factual responses about AAs or the AANA states "in our opinion AAs" .... The ASA on the other hand consistently posts, writes letters to Congress/the VA etc., stating their opinions as facts and trying to mislead the public with lies that the ASA has never been able to back up. The two organizations have a totally different political approach. One deals in political lies while trying to pass them off as facts (ASA) and the other (AANA) deals in facts while stating their opinions and qualifying them as their opinions. The ASA has no studies or facts to back up their claims, but that doesn't stop them from steadily producing lies and publicly telling the world that independent CRNAs are not safe which has proven to be a lie over and over.

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JWK your posts are much like the ASA all opinion with no facts while trying to convince everyone that you are telling the truth.

Specializes in SICU.

The "They don't know what they don't know" argument is simply one expert's opinion. Expert opinion is generally considered the lowest level of credible evidence. Until the ANA can produce legitimate studies that show that CRNAs have worse outcomes than MDAs, who cares what anybody says? It's just a bunch of "experts" pointing fingers. Currently, the only studies I've ever encountered show no difference in anesthesia outcomes between providers.

Show me the evidence.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
The "They don't know what they don't know" argument is simply one expert's opinion. Expert opinion is generally considered the lowest level of credible evidence. Until the ANA can produce legitimate studies that show that CRNAs have worse outcomes than MDAs, who cares what anybody says? It's just a bunch of "experts" pointing fingers. Currently, the only studies I've ever encountered show no difference in anesthesia outcomes between providers.

Show me the evidence.

The "ASA" has tried to produce studies that show difference in safety between anesthesia providers, and they have been unsuccessful. The research is overwhelming that independent CRNAs are just as safe or safer than anesthesiologists.

JWK prove it...

AAs do nothing to improve patient care. AAs were invented to try to control CRNA practice. AAs are nothing more than a political tool. AAs cannot function independently and cannot increase access to care.

CRNAs can and do function independently. CRNAs can work with any type of physician, surgeon, dentist, podiatrist etc. CRNAs have been around for 150 years. The AANA has been around longer than ASA or the AAAA. AAs must work under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist. The AANA posts factual responses about AAs or the AANA states "in our opinion AAs" .... The ASA on the other hand consistently posts, writes letters to Congress/the VA etc., stating their opinions as facts and trying to mislead the public with lies that the ASA has never been able to back up. The two organizations have a totally different political approach. One deals in political lies while trying to pass them off as facts (ASA) and the other (AANA) deals in facts while stating their opinions and qualifying them as their opinions. The ASA has no studies or facts to back up their claims, but that doesn't stop them from steadily producing lies and publicly telling the world that independent CRNAs are not safe which has proven to be a lie over and over.

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JWK your posts are much like the ASA all opinion with no facts while trying to convince everyone that you are telling the truth.

Sadly, you rely on the pablum you're spoon-fed from the AANA to form your opinions, because they clearly don't have a factual basis. On the other hand, I have personal first-hand experience dealing with the CRNA lobby over a 30+ year career. I know what I'm talking about - you're fantasizing.

AA's were created because of the overall manpower shortage in anesthesia that existed 40 years ago. Back when the vast majority of CRNA's had no degree of any sort, just a nursing diploma and anesthesia certificate, AA's came along with a masters-prepared provider, a totally new concept at the time.

You only consider us a political tool because we don't agree with you. I'm sure anyone who agrees with the ASA is someone you would consider a political tool, regardless of the initials after their name.

Blah, blah, blah, on the next part of your post. YOU haven't been practicing 150 years.

Again - the hypocrisy is blinding. Holding up the AANA as a bastion of truth, justice, and the American way is just profoundly absurd - that you can't see it, or admit it, speaks volumes.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
Sadly, you rely on the pablum you're spoon-fed from the AANA to form your opinions, because they clearly don't have a factual basis. On the other hand, I have personal first-hand experience dealing with the CRNA lobby over a 30+ year career. I know what I'm talking about - you're fantasizing.

AA's were created because of the overall manpower shortage in anesthesia that existed 40 years ago. Back when the vast majority of CRNA's had no degree of any sort, just a nursing diploma and anesthesia certificate, AA's came along with a masters-prepared provider, a totally new concept at the time.

You only consider us a political tool because we don't agree with you. I'm sure anyone who agrees with the ASA is someone you would consider a political tool, regardless of the initials after their name.

Blah, blah, blah, on the next part of your post. YOU haven't been practicing 150 years.

Again - the hypocrisy is blinding. Holding up the AANA as a bastion of truth, justice, and the American way is just profoundly absurd - that you can't see it, or admit it, speaks volumes.

I see you posting opinions again....but without proof of anything as usual. Provide some facts and maybe someone will listen.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Interesting read: 2007 Kentucky Legislative Commission report A Study of Anesthesiologist Assistants

History and Description of Anesthesiologist Assistants

The first anesthesiologist assistant programs were started at Emory University and Case Western Reserve University in 1969. The impetus of the education program and profession was the physician shortage faced by the field of anesthesiology in the mid-1960s, the shortage of nurses in anesthesia , and the increasing technological demands of the field. In response, three anesthesiologists proposed the concept of an "anesthesiat echnologist" who would be a member of the anesthesia team and be considered an "applied physiologist" (Gravenstein 356).

It was envisioned that this new anesthesia professional would have a bachelor's degree in science with premedical training and be awarded a master's degree that allowed for both vertical mobility toward a medical degree and lateral mobility into other areas requiring training in biomedical equipment and physiologic measurement. The anesthesiologist assistant would remain under the supervision of the anesthesiologist as "responsibility and immediate care of the patient must remain within the province of the anesthesiologist; consequently, personnel could not work independently but only under the immediate direction of the anesthesiologist. An advantage in manpower for the anesthesiologist would result, as he could provide attention to several patients with the proper employment of the anesthesia team, as described above" (Gravenstein 357).

Since its inception, the anesthesiologist assistant profession has grown but remains a largely regionalized profession due to the small number of programs, which until recently numbered only two; and the limited number of jurisdictions, 16, where anesthesiologist assistants are authorized to practice. In 1989, the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants was formed to establish a national certification process.

Today, the American Society of Anesthesiologists considers anesthesiologist assistants to be mid-level anesthesia providers who work under the direction of an anesthesiologist and participate in the provision of anesthesia, performing such tasks as administering drugs, obtaining vascular access, applying and interpreting monitors, establishing and maintaining patient airway, and assisting with preoperative assessment (Emory).

When this report was written in 2007 there was FOUR AA programs; 2013 has seen expansion to NINE programs.

http://www.caahep.org/Find-An-Accredited-Program/

Compare that to COA's 113 approved Nurse Anesthesia programs in 2013.

My home state PA has THIRTEEN programs--- SIX are within 30 minutes of my Philly area home with Nazareth Hospital based program slated to close in 2015. Obviously the public/nurses are choosing this career path over AA due to independent anesthesia practice under boards of nursing.

Specializes in Anesthesia.

http://www.nmana.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/AA-CRNA-comparison-table.pdf

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http://www.aana.com/Search/Pages/DefaultResults.aspx?k=%09%20Anesthesiologist%20Assistant%20Myths%20vs.%20Reality%09

If AAs were simply invented d/t a shortage of anesthesia providers it would have made more sense to increase the number seats in NA programs and more cost-effective to.

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