COVID-19 Resources for CRNAs

Pennsylvania once again is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases and many health-care facilities across the commonwealth are beginning to feel the strain as more patients seek hospitalization.

Both the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA) and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) are doing all they can to help members stay informed with easy access to resources that may help.

In the spring, when the virus first emerged, many certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) were out of work as elective surgeries were halted and confusion reigned about the role CRNAs could play to help in the pandemic because they lacked professional designation.

Some of these same scenarios are starting to play out again across the state, so it is important that CRNAs know that they can turn to their professional association for assistance or to have questions answered.

AANA has compiled a list of federal resources to help CRNAs:

• Employment Resources

• CARES Act Infographic

• Medicare FAQ

• CMS: Emergency Guidance

• CMS: COVID-19 Related Regulatory Changes

• Telemedicine Toolkit

• The White House/CDC COVID-19 website

Find all of AANA’s COVID-19 Resources on its website.

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact PANA or one of our officers for the help you need.

Learn more at www.PANA.org or www.PANAforQualityCare.com.

Pennsylvania SRNA Receives National Accolades

A Pennsylvania nurse anesthesia student received the 2020 AANA Student Excellence Award.

Ryan Wade, a senior at the Allegheny School of Anesthesia/La Roche University, accepted the award during the virtual Annual Congress.

The national award is an annual honor presented to a student in good academic standing who demonstrates outstanding leadership and professionalism, participates in activities that help foster a positive public image of nursing, and engages in activities that support health care.

Wade demonstrated his capacity for leadership and professionalism during his first clinical rotation when he took swift action to help a nurse found unresponsive on the floor. He immediately began CPR and called out for help, remaining calm as he continued providing care. Wade’s actions and competence helped her survive the cardiac arrest, intact cognitively. Her subsequent care uncovered additional complications, and though she later passed away, the family kept in contact with Wade, inviting him to attend her memorial service.

He also maintained academic excellence while being active with PANA. Wade has been an advocate for CRNAs in Pennsylvania by serving on PANA’s Government Relations Committee. He was an active member of the committee for two terms, having participated in numerous events. Wade met with state legislators and committees, including legislative leaders such as former Speaker of the House Mike Turzai and the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee. His efforts also extended to the federal level, having met with Vice-President Mike Pence.

"Ryan is a leader among his peers and has consistently exceeded our expectations these past two years,” said PANA Director of State Government Affairs Jessica Poole, DNAP, CRNA. “His drive and enthusiasm is contagious and his wisdom and insight exceeds well beyond his level of training. He represents our profession with tact and professionalism."

Locally, he displayed his professional promise and capabilities of serving the community by serving as a PANA spokesperson to WTAE, a Pittsburgh news channel. During the broadcast, he demonstrated proper use of PPE and informed the public of PANA’s purchase of 3D N-95 masks, intended to support Pennsylvania CRNAs working with COVID-19 patients.

“I envision he will continue in his efforts to privately and publicly represent our profession as a knowledgeable, competent and pre-eminently invested CRNA after graduation,” said Allegheny School of Anesthesia Program Director Deborah Davison, DNAP, MS, CRNA. “I am very proud of his accomplishments and feel confident that he is deserving of this award as recognition for his hard work.”

PANA applauds Ryan Wade’s achievements as an SRNA and congratulates him on this well-deserved national recognition.

PANA Members Recount How Patients and Facilities Benefit from Waiver Removing Physician Supervision

Health-care facilities, patients benefit from waiver removing physician supervision during pandemic

We shared with you previously stories from the frontline among certified registered nurse anesthetists who are experiencing firsthand the effects of the state’s temporary blanket waiver removing the physician supervision requirement for CRNAs.

The waiver was included in an executive order that the governor signed to protect health-care practitioners for good-faith actions taken in response to this crisis, and it remains in effect for the duration of the governor’s disaster proclamation.

As you know, Pennsylvania regulations still require physician supervision of CRNAs in a hospital setting. The temporary suspension gives health-care facilities more flexibility to tap into the unique skillset of CRNAs to fulfill critical roles outside the operating room during this crisis. After all, CRNAs possess a skillset uniquely suited to aid during a respiratory pandemic.

Without a doubt, the waiver has made a real difference. Here are some more voices from the frontline. (Please note that the names of the CRNAs and their facilities have been removed to ensure their anonymity and protection in the workplace.)

“My hospital may not financially survive since elective procedures have been canceled. Our anesthesia team staffing had to change to preserve costs and the governor’s order helped us accomplish that.”

“Our role has been authorized for this expansion of function outside the operating room. The plan is to utilize CRNAs to run overflow ICU beds in our PACU and pre-op areas. CRNAs would manage patient care, manage ventilators, order labs, medications and appropriate radiology studies, and insert central and arterial lines as needed.”

“In our facility, CRNAs served in the OR, in labor and delivery, and on the intubation team for the ED and COVID/PUI patients; we also had a portion of our team train to perform supportive roles in our critical care units and also make the PACU into a makeshift ICU if the need arose but that has not been necessary as of this point.”

“Hospital administration along with the support of our MD Anesthesiologist (MDA) counterparts also suspended MDA supervision at the hospital, allowing the CRNAs to practice to the full extent of our knowledge and training. The CRNAs performed advanced practice skills and critical care decisions independent of the anesthesiologists. CRNAs were also the sole advanced practice provider at night during the first two weeks of the COVID crisis. For five weeks, the CRNAs put into practice the skills and knowledge to assist the ICU physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses. The CRNAs knowingly put themselves literally face to face with COVID patients, intubating and securing the airways, and placing lines to insure vascular access. Our hospital was the hardest hit in central Pennsylvania by the COVID crisis, and had one of the lowest mortality rates. CRNAs were the keystone in the successful treatment and management of these patients.”

This waiver truly has given CRNAs the chance to showcase the value they bring not only to the state’s pandemic response and recovery efforts, but also to the safe, efficient, affordable delivery of quality health care generally. Stories like these and from our earlier post prove why physician supervision should finally be removed permanently in Pennsylvania.