District of Columbia Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants

Join us on September 25 for our annual DCAAA Fall Member Meeting! Check your email or dcaaa.org for details and to register to attend.

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Fantastic turn out for our CAA week celebration! Thanks for coming out!

Happy CAA Week! Celebrate with DCAAA and DCSA on Thursday, June 9!

Happy Memorial Day!

What better way to show your appreciation for those who serve our nation than by helping them receive the best medical care possible? You can help! See the below email from the AAAA and submit a comment to www.safeVAcare.org It only takes a few minutes to help out the veterans who deserve optimal medical attention. ANYBODY can fill this form out!

On May 25, 2016, the U.S. Veterans Affairs administration proposed a new Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) rule that will mandate the independent practice of APRNs in VA facilities across the nation regardless of individual state scope of practice laws. If this rule is adopted by the VA, the following will occur:

-Nurse anesthetists will be allowed to serve as anesthesia and peri-operative providers without physician involvement
-The supervisory role of physicians and especially physician anesthesiologists will be significantly diminished in the VA system
-As the role of physician anesthesiologists declines in the VA, so will the opportunities for CAA practice in the VA
-The independent nurse anesthetists practice model could become the norm in Medicaid and Medicare, meaning that CAA practice in facilities with low-income and elderly populations will diminish
-Celebrate Memorial Day by taking action to submit comments to the VA opposing the APRN Rule. All the information you need to post comments are at www.safeVAcare.org.

NOTE: Even if you have already submitted comments, you may do so again and should encourage others in your sphere of influence to submit comments.

Additional talking points unique to CAAs:

-I am a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant with ____ years of experience.
-I want the option to practice in the VA. If the APRN Rule passes, I will be disenfranchised from working in the VA because I only work under the supervision of a physician anesthesiologists.
-My training and experience are equal to or greater than that of CRNAs. The APRN Rule will effectively eliminate Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants from practicing in the VA.
-I think that allowing CRNAs to practice independently is anti-competitive to CAA practice and violates the Federal Trade Commission laws and rules which assure competition and service provider options in the marketplace.
-Veterans deserve the same provider options as persons outside the military.
-The Anesthesia Care Team in which a physician anesthesiologist is immediately available to assist an anesthetist (CAA or CRNA) is the most cost-effective and safe method of anesthesia administration and peri-operative care.
-Veterans deserve the proven Anesthesia Care Team approach which assures that the highest trained and experienced anesthesia provider, the physician anesthesiologist, is materially involved in patient care.

Additional talking points unique to SAAs:

-I am a student Anesthesiologist Assistant who will enter practice in ____ (year).
-I want the option to practice in the VA. If the APRN Rule passes, I will be disenfranchised as a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant from working in the VA because I only work under the supervision of a physician anesthesiologists.
-My training and experience are equal to or greater than that of CRNAs. The APRN Rule will effectively eliminate Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants from practicing in the VA.
-I think that allowing CRNAs to practice independently is anti-competitive to CAA practice and violates the Federal Trade Commission laws and rules which assure competition and service provider options in the marketplace.
-Veterans deserve the same provider options as persons outside the military.
-The Anesthesia Care Team in which a physician anesthesiologist is immediately available to assist an anesthetist (CAA or CRNA) is the most cost-effective and safe method of anesthesia administration and peri-operative care.
-Veterans deserve the proven Anesthesia Care Team approach which assures that the highest trained and experienced anesthesia provider, the physician anesthesiologist, is materially involved in patient care

Protect Safe VA Care I'm taking a stand for America's Vets who risk their lives for our country. Post your comment to stop the VA from removing physician anesthesiologists from surgery.

Please come join us in celebrating national AA week in DC! Happy hour hosted at Big Bear Cafe on June 9th at 5pm. RSVP through the link below!

http://www.evite.com/event/026DOH7XGGCBXIGUYEPGCVQ7FLKWTY?gid=0068CORXHVISDAUB2EPGCVRIAIQFDQ&utm_campaign=view_invitation_button&utm_medium=email&utm_source=GUEST_INVITE_EVENT -s

Invitations, Free eCards and Party Planning Ideas from Evite June 5 – 11, 2016 is AA Week - the national week recognizing the work and careers of Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants. The DCAAA will be hosting a happy hour to celebrate AAs in the DC metro area! Please join us in toasting our profession! Free drink tickets to be provided to DCAAA members!

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/12/anesthesiologist-assistants-practice-state.html

Fantastic article by Dr. Karen Sibert promoting our profession

Anesthesiologist assistants should be able to practice in every state Many Americans have never heard of anesthesiologist assistants. Even many physicians are unaware that the profession exists.

Be sure to vote for AAAA Leadership! Your vote matters! Voting open now through August 10.

Happy AA Week!

Come join us for Happy Hour on Monday, June 1, to Celebrate AA Week (June 1-5)! We will be at Chaplin's Restaurant from 6-8pm with drinks provided for DCAAA members!