PANA vs Pennsylvania Society of Anesthesiologist

jwk · Jul 5, 2007

Beg to differ that PA CRNA legislation has NOT died, still in committee and will be on the table in fall legislative session.

Legislators that originally supported the bill have withdrawn their support - although it's possible that it could reappear, it appears dead for this session.

jwk · Jul 5, 2007

This was a bad week for CRNA's.
1) NC passes AA legislation and gov will sign
2) Louisiana legislation to allow pain management died
3) PA legislation died too

The concept that expanded AA practice is bad for CRNA's is like saying that Target opening across the street from WalMart is bad. The difference is that half of those WalMarts and Targets probably won't close in the next 15-20 years, whereas half of the anesthesia workforce will be retiring in the next 15-20 years. Plenty of room for everyone into the forseeable future.

As far as PA and LA - legislators aren't stupid. They can understand, just like the general public can, that for all the smoke and mirrors and studies, an MD and a CRNA (or NP or CNM, etc.) are not equivalent in training or knowledge. Obviously Mr. Zwerling's testimony didn't sway anyone in PA.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jul 5, 2007

bill is still on the table, more hearings will be held in fall session before it is voted out of committee to entire house staff.

it is one of three bills to update our nurse practice act in pa. most of language is already in our practice act, we are updating it to reflect current practice standards already in place. need all pa nurses to continue to write/meet legislators over this issue.

pa governor is behind legislation as part of his rx for pa plan.

so far these bills hb 1253, hb 1254, hb 1255 all pass in the house unanimously!

hb1251 and 1252 – physicians’ assistants

hb1253 – certified nurse practitioners

hb1254 – clinical nurse specialists

hb1255 – nurse midwives

see you in the fall.

foraneman · Jul 23, 2007

wow,
I can't believe this is the guy who is representing our field. I know of things Dr. Zwerling was involved in years ago. Does anyone else know anything about his history?? He was a (drug) user when i heard of him. I thought it was impossible to be head of anything with that in your past, especially since morphine has an 80% lifetime relapse rate.. meaning there's an 80% chance he could still be using. I would hate for that congressman to find out that information. When we elect one of our own to represent us, we need to make sure its someone with a clean past and better interviewing skills.. i mean if you ask me, its almost as if the congressman was mocking him at times. anyone else get that impression??... oh well, whatever you do, don't forward the following link to the congressman... or to any anesthesiologist. hate for one of them to get a hold of this information. Peace. Go CRNAs !!!!...

Fortunately we do have individuals like Dr. Zwerling representing us. Individuals who think before they speak and take the time to check their facts before spouting nonsense. "He was a (drug) user when i heard of him. I thought it was impossible to be head of anything with that in your past,". That statement is so poorly thought out that it is difficult to address with a straight face. Apparently you never heard of Jan Stewart. "whatever you do, don't forward the following link to the congressman... or to any anesthesiologist. hate for one of them to get a hold of this information." Why? Because one of them would like nothing more than to declare themselves superior? Art Zwerling is on the AANA Peer Assistance Advisory Committee and has been for many years. As such, he is one of three national peer advisors for the AANA. Even the most feeble minded can grasp that this places his recovery from substance abuse in a national spotlight. Zwerling lectures in anesthesia schools and at state meetings across the country on the issue of substance abuse in anesthesia. If this is news to anybody, then THEY do not belong representing their peers. :monkeydance:

wnabsrna · Jul 23, 2007

I don't really have any problem with AZ's history, and I think he's doing the right thing by staying so active in the substance abuse prevention programs. BUT, you've got to admit that he is a HORRIBLE public speaker. If I knew nothing about him, and watched those 2 short videos (posted on the very first post of this thread) I would think that he's a complete moron. He should take some public speech courses and try to get it together. He looks up at the roof while answer questions, or perhaps he's looking at the sky hoping answers to the panel's questions will come falling down. He says "uhhhh" before every sentences. Geez louise. He's not a good representation of the field in these videos......

DIGNOUT · Jul 23, 2007

Fortunately we do have individuals like Dr. Zwerling representing us. Individuals who think before they speak and take the time to check their facts before spouting nonsense. "He was a (drug) user when i heard of him. I thought it was impossible to be head of anything with that in your past,". That statement is so poorly thought out that it is difficult to address with a straight face. Apparently you never heard of Jan Stewart. "whatever you do, don't forward the following link to the congressman... or to any anesthesiologist. hate for one of them to get a hold of this information." Why? Because one of them would like nothing more than to declare themselves superior? Art Zwerling is on the AANA Peer Assistance Advisory Committee and has been for many years. As such, he is one of three national peer advisors for the AANA. Even the most feeble minded can grasp that this places his recovery from substance abuse in a national spotlight. Zwerling lectures in anesthesia schools and at state meetings across the country on the issue of substance abuse in anesthesia. If this is news to anybody, then THEY do not belong representing their peers. :monkeydance:

Very, very well said.

Little Fish · Jul 24, 2007

Fortunately we do have individuals like Dr. Zwerling representing us.

Umh, don't you mean unfortunately?

I didn't think those videos were very impressive.

deepz · Jul 24, 2007

......I didn't think those videos were very impressive.

Who do you think edited those videos, Fish? Consider the source. (A$A)

AZ is THE MAN -- a credit to nurse anesthetists and to the human race in general. Why do the docs denigrate him so and spread rumors right here on this BB?--because he calls a spade a spade. He points out that the Emperor (A$A) has no clothes.

!

Little Fish · Jul 25, 2007

Who do you think edited those videos, Fish? Consider the source. (A$A)
AZ is THE MAN -- a credit to nurse anesthetists and to the human race in general. Why do the docs denigrate him so and spread rumors right here on this BB?--because he calls a spade a spade. He points out that the Emperor (A$A) has no clothes.
!

The ASA edited the video? Really? You have the proof, of course?

Come on, how many of you think we don't ever need an anesthesiologist around? Sure 90% of the time this is the case but to claim equivalence is pushing it. He calls himself a Dr. but where did he get his degree? Was it online like many DNP degrees? I think he looks like a fool making these staements and mostly calling himself, Dr. Do you really think the public is going to embrace this?

deepz · Jul 26, 2007

The ASA edited the video? Really? You have the proof, of course?.......

Check the link that sent you to those two videos of AZ -- a link from the A$A (PSA, same as) to their edit of his testimony.

Now who looks like a fool, fish?

No need to speculate or spread rumors about AZ. Google him if you want to get your own facts straight and not just throw dirt.

!

Little Fish · Jul 29, 2007

Check the link that sent you to those two videos of AZ -- a link from the A$A (PSA, same as) to their edit of his testimony.
Now who looks like a fool, fish?
No need to speculate or spread rumors about AZ. Google him if you want to get your own facts straight and not just throw dirt.
!

Still, can you show me what was edited?:trout:(I always wanted to use this symbol)

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jul 29, 2007

dr arthur zwerling's credentials:

fox chase cancer center's arthur zwerling completes his doctoral ...

philadelphia (jan. 30, 2007) -- fox chase cancer center's arthur zwerling, c.r.n.a., m.s.n., d.n.p., of elkins park, pa., has earned his doctorate in nursing practice in pain management from university of tennessee health science center. his focus was on assessment, prevention and treatment of post-thoracotomy shoulder pain syndromes.
zwerling is a staff certified registered nurse anesthetist at fox chase and a lecturer at university of pennsylvania school of nursing. before joining fox chase, zwerling was program director of the schools of nurse anesthesia at university of pennsylvania and pennsylvania hospital.
zwerling earned his m.s. from saint joseph's university and his m.s.n. from temple university. between the years of 2004 and 2005, zwerling was awarded the american association of nurse anesthetists foundation doctoral scholarship and the international nurses society on addictions impaired practice / peer assistance award.
in addition to his professional work, zwerling has volunteered his time to work with the health volunteer overseas, belize nurse anesthesia program and eritrea nurse anesthesia program. he is also a member of the pennsylvania association of nurse anesthetists, american association of nurse anesthetists and the american association for the advancement of science.

art is more than qualified to speak on behalf of crna legislation and professional standards.

house bill
no. 1256 session of 2007
(4) a certified registered nurse anesthetist shall be 1 subject to all of the following:
2 (i) a certified registered nurse anesthetist shall
3 administer anesthesia in collaboration with a physician or
4 dentist.
5 (ii) a certified registered nurse anesthetist's performance
6 shall be under the overall direction of the chief or director of
7 anesthesia services, provided, however, that in situations or
8 health care facilities where anesthesia services are not
9 mandatory, the certified registered nurse anesthetist's
10 performance shall be under the overall direction of the
11 collaborating physician or dentist.
12 (iii) when the operating or anesthesia team consists
13 entirely of nonphysicians, an anesthesiologist or consulting
14 physician of the certified registered nurse anesthetist's choice
15 shall be available to the certified registered nurse anesthetist
16 by physical presence or electronic communication.
17 (5) nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit
18 the continued practice of certified registered nurse
19 anesthetists who were authorized to practice in this
20 commonwealth on the effective date of this section.
21 (b) a certified registered nurse anesthetist practicing in
22 this commonwealth whose employer does not provide professional 23 liability coverage shall maintain a level of professional
24 liability coverage required by law of a physician providing
25 similar health care services in this commonwealth, but shall not
26 be eligible to participate in the medical care availability and
27 reduction of error (mcare) fund.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2007&sind=0&body=h&type=b&bn=1256

---------------

current nursing regs:

anesthesia.

21.17. anesthesia.

the administration of anesthesia is a proper function of a registered nurse

and is a function regulated by this section; this function may not be performed unless:

(1) the registered nurse has successfully completed the educational program

of a school for nurse anesthetists accredited by the council on accreditation

of education programs of nurse anesthesia of the american association of nurse anesthetists.

(2) the registered nurse is certified as a registered nurse anesthetist by the council

on certification or on recertification of nurse anesthetists of the american association of nurse anesthetists.

(3) the certified nurse anesthetist is authorized to administer anesthesia in cooperation with a surgeon or dentist.

the nurse anesthetist’s performance shall be under the overall direction of the chief or

director of anesthesia services. in situations or health care delivery facilities where these services are not

mandatory, the nurse anesthetist’s performance shall be under the overall direction of the surgeon

or dentist responsible for the patient’s care.

qualifications), when the operating/anesthesia team consists entirely of nonphysicians, such as a dentist

and a certified registered nurse anesthetist, the registered nurse anesthetist shall have available to her by

physical presence or electronic communication an anesthesiologist or consulting physician of her choice.

(5) a noncertified registered nurse who has completed an approved anesthesia program may administer anesthesia

under the direction of and in the presence of the chief or director anesthesia services or a board certified anesthesiologist

until the announcement of results of the first examination given for certification for which she is eligible.

if a person fails to take or fails to pass the examination, the person shall immediately cease practicing as a nurse anesthetist.

if the applicant, due to extenuating circumstances, cannot take the first scheduled examination following completion of the program, the applicant shall appeal to the board for authority to continue practicing. (b) for purposes of this section, ‘‘cooperation’’ means a process in which the nurse anesthetist and the surgeon work together with each contributing an area of expertise, at their individual and respective levels of education and training.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter21/s21.17.html