During CRNA Week in Pa., Legislative Resolutions Recognize Those Who Are There When Seconds Count

Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) used to be the best kept secret in health care. But all of that is changing. Two separate resolutions adopted unanimously by the state House and Senate on Jan. 16 recognize CRNAs for the quality, affordable care we provide and offer a new glimpse of the men and women behind the surgical masks.

The resolutions were sponsored by state Sen. John R. Gordner (R-Columbia) and Rep. Stephen Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) --- two longtime champions of CRNAs in Pennsylvania. Their resolutions (S.R. 6 and H.R. 30, respectively) recognize Jan. 20-26 as “Nurse Anesthetists Week” in Pennsylvania, coinciding with National CRNA Week.

This is an incredible tribute to every CRNA who plays a role in protecting patients’ health and controlling rising health-care costs. The fact is that when seconds count, it’s you --- the certified registered nurse anesthetist --- who’s there by the patient’s side for every heartbeat, every breath, every step of the way.

It used to be that patients weren’t aware of us, or that they didn’t remember it was a CRNA who cared for them throughout their procedure. Not anymore. More and more people understand that CRNAs are hands-on providers of anesthesia care for millions of patients every year. We are usually the last person they see before being anesthetized for their procedure, and the first person they see when they awake.

That’s a testament to our commitment to care for the patient throughout the entire surgical procedure.

The fact is that health care would be much different without CRNAs. We operate safely in every setting where anesthesia is administered, including: hospital operating and delivery rooms; ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, and plastic surgeons; pain management centers and more.

That’s why so many more patients are getting to know us.

And our role is so much more expansive. CRNAs are the main providers of anesthesia care in rural communities. CRNAs also are battle-tested, serving on the front lines since World War I as the main providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel in austere combat theaters.

That’s why so many more patients and providers appreciate us.

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists, thank you, CRNAs, for all you do. It may be designated “CRNA Week in Pennsylvania,” but we know your passion and dedication drive you --- day in, day out, all year long.

To read our news release about “CRNA Week in Pennsylvania,” click HERE.

Derek Reckard Named New PANA President

Derek Reckard, MSN, PHRN, CRNA, was named the new president of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists on Oct. 20 at PANA’s fall symposium at Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pa.

Reckard has a long history of serving PANA and its members. He has been an active board member for five years.

Before being named PANA president-elect last year preceding his elevation to the top post this weekend, Reckard served as a board Trustee and was the association’s Federal Political Director. He also served on PANA’s Governance Committee, which included state government affairs, and was chairman of the committee for the last two years.

With that background, Reckard brings a firsthand knowledge of the importance of interactions between lawmakers and their constituents --- namely, the CRNAs who live in policy-makers’ home districts.

He helped to spearhead several drop-in days for CRNAs in both Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., where nurse anesthetists walked the halls of the state and federal Capitol buildings and talked directly to state legislators and congressmen.

Expect that tradition to continue during his one-year term in 2018-19.

Reckard said he is focused on increasing member engagement, as the coming year is the best time to launch the initiative. Both the state General Assembly and Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation expect record turnover.

That means there are plenty of opportunities for CRNAs to introduce themselves and the profession to these new elected leaders --- and to start building the bridges that are needed to enact policies that benefit CRNAs and the individuals they care for.

Reckard’s initiative, “Be a KEY Contact,” which stands for the “Keystone Engagement Year,” involves recruiting volunteers who will serve as leaders who then recruit other CRNAs into advocacy work.

Actions include visiting a new legislator’s district office, with PANA and government affairs support; hosting an event with other CRNAs in the area to talk about important issues; serving as the hospital spokesperson who talks with other CRNAs in the break room or who will simply share information around the watercooler about issues PANA is managing; and much more.

Information being shared could be about planned legislative votes, upcoming PANA elections, PAC fund-raisers, regional meetings or anything else of interest.

Reckard also knows the strength of PANA is its membership. Each year, more and more people are showing up at Capitol Days and getting engaged with legislative activities. If you have ideas about how to grow the “Be a KEY Contact” campaign, let him know.

It remains as important as ever for CRNAs to remain engaged. Not only will record numbers of new lawmakers be in office, but some of the most critical issues will still be pending when the new two-year legislative sessions kick off in January 2019.

PANA successfully defeated attempts in the legislative session that just ended to push through a “scope of practice” bill that would have mandated physician supervision of nurse anesthetists in Pennsylvania. It was a major victory. Expect the anesthesiologists to make another push at the bill in the new session.

Reckard also will continue the fight for professional designation, which would formally recognize certified registered nurse anesthetists as “CRNAs” under state statute. Pennsylvania is one of just two states without designation. New York is the other.

A designation bill did advance fully through the Senate, only to get caught up in the House, but the passage provided momentum to build on when the process restarts with a new General Assembly. And the committee chairman in the House who blocked the bill has retired. It creates opportunities.

Regardless of the legislative issue, or association business, Reckard is committed to making sure PANA does all it can for its members … and that its members do all they can to help the association advance the policies that will strengthen and enhance the profession for the benefit of CRNAs and patients alike.

Reckard replaces Jodie Szlachta, Ph.D., MSN, CRNA, who will remain on the board as immediate past president and continue to support the association’s legislative, policy, outreach and advocacy work.

Look for more information about Reckard and a personal presidential message on www.PANAforQualityCare.com after his installation.

PANA Prepares for Annual Leadership Transition

Current PANA President Jodie Szlachta takes the gavel from previous President Aaron Ostrowski.

With most residents gearing up for the Nov. 6 General Election, members of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists are preparing for their own governmental transition.

PANA’s fall symposium is right around the corner, set for Oct. 19-21 at Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pa. The symposium marks the annual installation of a new association president.

Current PANA President Jodie Szlachta, Ph.D., MSN, CRNA, is wrapping up her year and getting ready to pass off the gavel to President-elect Derek Reckard, MSN, PHRN, CRNA.

Szlachta presided over one of the more significant legislative events to occur at the state Capitol in years for PANA and its members.

On April 18, the House Professional Licensure Committee convened a hearing on legislation (H.B. 789) that would mandate physician supervision of nurse anesthetists in Pennsylvania.

The “scope of practice” bill would have limited the practice of certified registered nurse anesthetists in Pennsylvania would put the state at odds with national trends to modernize health laws and ensure access to safe, affordable, quality care.

The bill was being pushed by its sponsor, Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver), who was not running for re-election but was seeking a legacy measure to close out his terms in office.

Szlachta testified on a panel with Dr. Juan F. Quintana, former president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), and Dr. Pamela Wrobleski, president of BPW Medical Associates and PANA’s state reimbursement specialist.

The hearing made a difference. PANA’s effective testimony essentially neutralized the measure, which never received additional committee consideration and isn’t expected to move before the two-year legislative session ends in December.

This was a significant victory for PANA.

At the same time, PANA’s professional designation legislation (S.B. 274) sponsored by state Sen. John R. Gordner (R-Columbia) passed the Senate. The measure would formally recognize certified registered nurse anesthetists as “CRNAs” under Pennsylvania statute.

Although the pro-PANA measure did not receive a final vote in the House, its successful advancement in the Senate provided momentum going into the 2019-20 legislative session that starts in January.

Szlachta realizes that it’s still going to be difficult to get across the finish line, as it is with any policy in Harrisburg. Expect the anesthesiologists to find another House member to introduce a “scope of practice” bill in Christiana’s absence and continue to fight designation legislation.

That’s what makes PAC donations so important, as any CRNA who knows Szlachta has heard her say over and over again during her term and even before that as PAC committee chairwoman.

More and more CRNAs and SRNAs are getting engaged. That much is evident by the increasing number of professionals who attend Capitol Day in Harrisburg each year.

To be even more successful, PANA needs a strong PAC.

Your contributions enable the association to support elected officials and political candidates who share PANA’s views and philosophies. Your support also gives PANA access to regulators and lawmakers, ensuring they have the information they need to make the right decisions about legislation, rules and regulations, or program proposals that affect CRNAs like you.

You can celebrate Szlachta’s tenure and ensure Reckard’s term gets off to a solid start by donating to the PANA PAC by simply clicking HERE.

Before being named PANA president-elect, Reckard served as the association’s federal political director. He also is on PANA’s Governance Committee, which includes state government affairs.

Like Szlachta and other presidents before her, Reckard has been a tireless advocate for the profession and brings with him years of experience in government relations to advance PANA’s mission after he takes the reigns in October.

Look for more information about Reckard and a personal presidential message on www.PANAforQualityCare.com after his installation.