PANA Member Part of National Team Updating Anesthesia Practice Standards

PANA represents more than 3,700 certified registered nurse anesthetists and students in Pennsylvania, making it one of the largest state associations for CRNAs in the country. Many of PANA’s board members also play a role at the national level with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, meaning members here have enhanced representation.

The latest example is Jessica Poole, DNAP, MSN, CRNA. Jessica heads PANA’s Governance Committee, which is the association’s top post for engaging members and lawmakers on issues important to CRNAs, and for helping to coordinate efforts with other health-care partners.

Besides her work with PANA, Jessica also holds committee posts with AANA, where she is chair of the AANA Practice Committee, which comprises eight nurse anesthetists who work to ensure practice standards support the delivery of patient-centered, consistent, high-quality, and safe anesthesia care.

Jessica and her committee recently worked to release an updated version of the “Standards for Nurse Anesthesia Practice.” Revising the practice standards is a multi-year endeavor involving extensive reviews and several comment periods for stakeholder feedback. The comprehensive document sets standards that apply in all settings.

It’s an incredible undertaking --- and one more way both PANA and AANA are working to serve CRNAs in Pennsylvania and across the country.

Learn more about Jessica’s leadership and the updated standards by reading the full release below.

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Anesthesia Practice Standards Updated, Published by American Association of Nurse Anesthetists March 20, 2019

Park Ridge, Illinois—To ensure that patients continue receiving the highest quality anesthesia care possible, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) has published a comprehensive update to its Standards for Nurse Anesthesia Practice, the foundation of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) care delivery. The standards can be accessed at https://www.aana.com/standards.

As anesthesia experts with a 150+ year history, CRNAs are the hands-on providers of more than 45 million anesthetics each year in the United States, according to the AANA’s website (www.aana.com/crnafacts). The association represents approximately 53,000 CRNAs and student registered nurse anesthetists.

“The AANA’s practice standards support the delivery of patient-centered, consistent, high-quality, and safe anesthesia care and assist the public in understanding the CRNA’s role in patient care,” said Jessica Poole, DNAP, CRNA, chair of the AANA Practice Committee which is comprised of eight nurse anesthetists and supported by AANA staff. “The association routinely reviews and updates our profession’s practice standards, guidelines, and other critical documents based on the latest research to support CRNAs practicing at the peak of their knowledge and skills.”

This adherence to keeping current is one reason for CRNAs’ stellar safety record, according to AANA President Garry Brydges, DNP, MBA, CRNA. “No fewer than 10 major anesthesia safety studies published since 2000 have confirmed that CRNAs are the safest, most cost-effective anesthesia professionals in the United States,” he said.

With 7-8½ years of education and more than 9,000 hours of clinical training resulting in a graduate degree in their specialty, CRNAs are qualified to deliver anesthesia care for surgical, obstetrical, and emergency procedures, as well as provide chronic pain management services. They are the predominant anesthesia providers in rural and medically underserved areas of the country, to new moms in labor, and to U.S. military personnel around the world, especially on the front lines.

Poole said that “revising the practice standards was a multi-year endeavor involving an extensive literature review, multiple focus sessions, legal review, and a public comment period to obtain feedback from stakeholders across all practice settings.” The final document delineates each standard and includes links to more detailed resource documents containing the latest research to support the implementation of the standard.

“The standards apply in all practice settings, including operating rooms, nonoperating room anesthetizing areas, ambulatory surgical centers, and office-based practices,” Poole said. “As anesthesia care delivery continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the AANA and its members will continue to evolve right along with it. Our patients and employers expect nothing less.”

The essential elements of the standards include:

• Patients’ rights, which are prioritized as Standard 1 in the revised document;

• Preanesthesia patient assessment and evaluation;

• The anesthesia care plan;

• Informed consent;

• Documentation;

• Equipment;

• Anesthesia plan implementation and management;

• Monitoring and alarms;

• Infection control and prevention; and

• Transfer of care.

The revision also includes the addition of new standards on wellness and culture of safety.

“Patients can rest assured that when they receive their anesthesia from a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist they are in the care of a well-prepared, highly qualified provider whose sole focus is on their comfort and safety,” said Poole.

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.