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.

Are you a CARVED CRNA?

If you have attended a business meeting or heard me speak on some occasion since 2012, you probably have heard the question: Are you a CARVED CRNA? CARVED is an acronym I use to describe the consummate, professional CRNA. It goes beyond the characteristics that describe the Pennsylvania CRNA who delivers expert anesthesia care on a daily basis to our commonwealth’s patients. At the end of the day, you drive to a home in a car to a life that you would not have achieved without the opportunities availed to you by the professional activism outlined in this message. You may think of this as a checklist to determine if you are doing your part for the profession.

C is for Communicate: We communicate with each other and operating room professionals to exchange information about anesthesia techniques, employment opportunities, and family life. The CARVED CRNA turns the conversation outward to meet with hospital administrators, legislators, and the community to describe who we are and what we do. Communication fosters relationships that pay dividends when important decisions are made in the boardrooms and voting chambers across the state.

A is for Attend: We all need to attend in-services and meetings to maintain our certifications. Meetings at vacation locations are appealing, but those meetings will not give you specific information about state and national professional issues. The CARVED CRNA attends professional meetings such as the AANA Midyear Assembly and Leadership Academy, the PANA Spring or Fall Symposia and PANA’s Lobby Day. Can you consider alternating your meeting years to attend a quality, substantive, state meeting on even years and vacation meetings on odd years? The “meatier” meetings grant Continuing Education credits, and they equip you to reach out to those beyond the operating room.

R is for Read: Most CRNAs are familiar with reading. We all had to do it to get through training. It can’t stop there! The CARVED CRNA goes deeper to get familiar with practice issues and policy in your facility and on the state and national levels. Reading the newsletter, e-mails from AANA and PANA, and related social media posts give you information on current professional events.

V is for Vote: Hopefully, many CRNAs vote in the U.S. presidential elections. The CARVED CRNA votes in AANA’s and PANA’s annual elections, too. Unlike the U.S. voting system, AANA and PANA do not have an Electoral College. EVERY vote counts! PANA pledges to have full ballots with competitive candidates for each officer and trustee position.

E is for Educate: Many CRNAs educate SRNAs in the operating room. The CARVED CRNA, prepared with readings and information from attending quality professional meetings, will be able to educate others about our practice. State policies pertinent to CRNA practice in Pennsylvania that you can find on the web through any search engine include: “PA Code Chapter 21,” “PA Code Chapter 123,” and “PA Code Chapter 555.” PA Code Chapter 21 describes our scope of practice, and is part of the State Board of Nursing Regulations. PA Code Chapter 123 is part of the Department of Health’s hospital regulations that describes CRNA practice in our state’s hospitals. PA Code Chapter 555 describes practice in our state’s surgicenters. These are great places to start educating yourself.

Finally, D is for Donate: Most CRNAs probably donate to charity. In addition to charity, the CARVED CRNA donates to PANA and AANA political action committees, or PACs. Relationships are important in politics, but money helps to support the election of candidates who share our issues, and PACs are the way to achieve that. If each of Pennsylvania’s CRNAs donated $10 per month to PANA-PAC through an automatic monthly payment, we would be doing our part to empower PANA to influence legislative activity in Harrisburg.

In the coming months, there will be more information from PANA to participate in ballot nominations, to visit your legislator in your local legislative district, and to vote in the annual PANA elections. The new year promises to deliver new and exciting challenges and opportunities for our profession. Can you resolve to get involved? PANA is prepared to help you become the consummate professional, the CARVED CRNA.