AZANA_Summer 2016 draft_v8

Message from the president ........................................2Arizona APRN legislation .............................................3 U of U program update ................................................4MYA 2016 .......................................................................5In memorium, Ronald F. Caulk, CRNA, FAAN ............6MWU 16 .........................................................................7

FPD update ...................................................................7VHA FAQs .....................................................................8 2016 PAC update ..........................................................9Incoming 2016-2017 AzANA Board ............................9Government Relations Committee 2016 Report .........10AANA Foundation ......................................................11

ARIZONA APRN LEGISLATION

VHA FAQs

PAGE 3

PAGE 8

AzANA President Ali Baghai interviewing in

front of the State Capitol Building.

AzANACRNA

@AzANACRN

AzCRNA.com















2 CRNA SENTINEL // July 2016 // azcrna.com

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

We are pleased to present this latest edition of the AZANA’s newsletter! The new Sentinel is reflective of the direction and development of our association. Since first serving on the AZANA Board of Directors in 2007, I have witnessed this organization grow tremendously. Three years ago, a group of Arizona CRNA lead-ers met to develop a strategic plan for our association. Today, I am proud to say we have ac-complished 95% of our five year goals! Our membership of over 500 CRNAs is stronger than it has ever been. You have an incredible BOD who are completely dedi-cated to protecting and advanc-ing CRNA practice in Arizona. The CRNAs of Arizona Political Action Committee is in the top 20 of all PACs in the state, supporting legislators who promote CRNAs & better health outcomes. We have an excellent relationship of mutual advocacy and support with our fellow Arizona nursing and APRN colleagues. Great things are hap-pening for CRNAs in Arizona, and I look forward to the road ahead.

This past legislative session we took on a monumental piece of legislation that grouped all APRNs together to allow for full practice authority. We received tremendous support from nurses, physicians,

patients, the public, and advocacy groups on the political left and right. Nearly 200 physicians signed on in support; a number unprec-edented in the nation for APRN full practice authority. Our opposition was led by the Arizona Medical As-sociation. If we passed this piece of legislation it would have been both remarkable and a great surprise to the CRNA community across the country as these legislative battles rarely pass on the first attempt. We learned a great deal through this legislative process and we will con-tinue planning over the summer to create a strategy for new legislation next year.

It is imperative that healthcare systems utilize teams where every member functions to the full extent of their education and training. Just as you never stop caring for your patients, the AZANA and your Board of Directors will never stop advocating for Arizona CRNAs.

Our legislative effort is not “us” versus “them.” When we fight it is us for us, us for our patients, us fighting to have the law reflect current practice, reflect our edu-cation, training, and our 150 year history of providing high qual-ity anesthesia care. Our work is

about promoting CRNAs and our ability to care for patients, not to minimize other professions. Our support is a coalition of patients, nurses, physicians, and health-care leaders moving forward an agenda that promotes teamwork and better outcomes. I want to be very clear on this important point regarding our association and our advocacy for CRNAs. It is easy to perceive a legislative battle for CRNAs on both the state and national level as a battle between CRNAs and anesthesiologists. I assure you, our legislative battles are not about us against them. We fight for CRNAs!

The principal battle for our profes-sion involves a rule update to the VA nursing handbook to ensure full practice authority for VA CRNAs and APRNs. Passage of this rule within the VA will set the tone for the rest of the country, demonstrating the capabilities of CRNAs. We need you, your family, and your friends to write letters to your legislators stating your support. The AANA has made this very easy, simply go to veter-ansaccesstocare.com.

Serving as the AZANA President this past year has been an incred-ible experience. I’ve learned a tremendous amount, and met incredible leaders throughout our community. In September, when my term ends, the association will be placed in the very capable hands of Joe Rodriguez. Joe is a tremendous advocate for CRNAs, he has incredible passion and energy. I’m very excited to witness Joe’s leadership next year.

Please, enjoy this latest edition of the Sentinel. Thank you for being a member of our association and of our profession!

Sincerely, Ali

ALI BAGHAI AzANA President

The principal battle for our profession involves a rule update to the VA nurs-ing handbook to ensure full practice authority for VA CRNAs and APRNs.

“

Our legislative battles are not about us against them. We fight for CRNAs.Our legislative battles are not about us against them. We fight for CRNAs.Our legislative battles are not about us against them. We fight for CRNAs.Our legislative battles are not about us against them. We fight for CRNAs.

3CRNA SENTINEL // July 2016 // azcrna.com

Joining other states to allow CRNAs to practice full scopeARIZONA APRN LEGISLATIONThis last year, Arizona’s APRNs joined together and introduced the largest nursing bill in Arizona’s history. Had it been successful, the bill would have completely rewritten the Nurse Practice Act for each APRN specialty in the state. While the bill ultimately was defeated, we had many major victories. The bill progressed further than most nursing lead-ers expected it to. Despite the ultimate failure of the bill, it was a major success in many ways.

Historically, when looking at other states and their success in in-creasing the Scope of Practice for APRNs, it has taken multiple years and multiple different bills be-fore they were successful. When leaders from the different APRN groups in Arizona first got to-gether, we discussed and planned for a multiple year fight. We have a plan and we are continuing on with our plan. Every nursing orga-nization in the state remains 100% committed to continuing the fight until every APRN in the state is able to practice to the full extent of their education and training.

We have learned a great deal from the defeat of last year’s bill. One of the main lessons learned is that Arizona’s legislators prefer smaller, more focused bills. This year the APRN Coalition plans on submit-ting multiple small bills. CRNAs will have a bill that focuses just on CRNAs. We will have multiple hearings. We should expect the medical associations to again say disparaging things about our pro-fession, both in public and behind closed doors to your legislators. We have a plan and will implement that plan to ensure your legislators

know the truth about the amaz-ing work CRNAs and all APRNs provide to the citizens of Arizona every single day. It is the nurses that truly care for Arizona.

There is no reason that Arizona cannot join the other states across the country that allow CRNAs to practice full scope. It may take several more years and it will defi-

nitely take a lot of time, talent, and resources for us to pull this off, but we will succeed! I strongly encour-age everyone to get involved. This is an exciting and historic time for our profession. Come be a part of history and let’s propel our profes-sion forward together.

—Randy Quinn, CRNA—Co-Chair, Arizona APRN Coalition

Joining other states to allow CRNAs to practice full scopeJoining other states to allow CRNAs to practice full scopeJoining other states to allow CRNAs to practice full scope


It is difficult to believe that the Summer 2016 semester is al-ready underway, and that we are welcoming in the third cohort of The University of Arizona SRNA students! As a developing pro-gram, we are enthusiastic to have a cohort class in all three levels of the curriculum. The University of Arizona Nurse Anesthesia Spe-cialty Class 2019 will begin their journey into anesthesia by attend-ing an intensive five week cadaver anatomy class at The University of Arizona College of Nursing in Tuc-son, Arizona. They will begin their online coursework with Founda-tions of Nurse Anesthesia. We expanded our cohort size from 10 to 12 students this year, bringing our SRNA total to 33. Addition-ally, we are proud to welcome two new professors who will join The University of Arizona College of Nursing, Dr. Richard Hecker and Dr. Stephanie May.

Here are some highlights from the past few months:• On January 9, Program Direc-

tor Dr. Kathleen Piotrowski, faculty Dr. Christol Williams, and SRNA students volun-teered at St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix. They helped to pack and sort food items for emergency food boxes benefitting those in need.

• In March, the AZANA held their annual Sun & Fun confer-ence. Many of our students attended the conference during their Spring Break. They appreciated learning about the different opportu-nities and challenges facing our profession. Connecting with local and national CRNA

leaders provided opportuni-ties for professional network-ing, growth, and added to the growing appreciation for what we do as nurse anesthetists.

—Erin Galligan, SRNA, Class of 2018, is proud to have been selected as the AANA Student Rep-resentative for the state of Arizona.

Looking forward, from August 17-22 we are excited for our week long Resident Intensive Summer Experi-ence (RISE). We will meet with our fellow professors and classmates across the spectrum of DNP prac-tice to collaborate on projects, ex-plore coursework, and continue our learning as we progress to becom-ing advanced practice nurses.

SRNAs in the Class of 2018 are eager to begin clinical rotations in the Phoenix and Tucson area this Fall. The practice-focused doctoral pro-gram provided them with a strong founda-tion for profes-sional practice that is both innovative and evidence-based. After many months of study-ing anesthesia and advanced practice nursing foundations in both the class-room and the lab, they are ex-cited to combine the education, simulation, and

evidence-based knowledge into practice.

SRNAs in the Class of 2017 con-tinue to excel in both the class-room and the clinical setting. They are successfully building up their case portfolios. Many are now placing epidurals, spinal blocks, and other peripheral nerve blocks. Some are using advanced airway techniques in the clinical setting. While these students continue to rotate among area hospitals and begin taking call shifts, they will continue gaining valuable experi-ence. These third-year students also participated in the 2nd annual white coat ceremony at The Uni-versity of Arizona College of Nurs-ing in March with their fellow DNP classmates! They will conclude their formal training in May 2017.

U OF A PROGRAM UPDATE


Dear AZANA Members: This past April, fellow incoming AZANA board member Herbie Du-ran, CRNA, incoming AZ Federal Political Director John Thompson, CRNA, and I had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. for the 2016 AANA Mid-Year Assem-bly. The objective of this meeting is to provide nurse anesthetists with education and training on how to effectively lobby on Capitol Hill for protecting and advancing our practice. We were updated on current healthcare policy and agenda, and were provided re-sources to help to develop profes-sional advocacy and leadership skills. Herbie, John, and I (along with three SRNAs from Medical University of South Carolina who joined our constituency) were hon-ored to represent Arizona at this national meeting.

CRNAs and SRNAs from across the country arrived in record-breaking numbers - over 1,000 strong! Our constituency was able to professionally network and have crucial conversations with federal policy-makers and their legislative teams. We met with

staff from Senator John McCain’s office as well as staff from seven of Arizona’s nine representatives in the US House of Representa-tives. Notably, Senator Jeff Flake met with us personally to discuss current state and national CRNA practice issues; his interest and enthusiasm was remarkable.

The focus of our conversations on Capitol Hill was H.R.1247 – Im-proving Veterans Access to Qual-ity Care Act of 2015. This bill (if passed) would authorize the VA to allow APRNs to practice full-scope, as defined by the applicable na-tional professional association, un-der a set of VA-approved privileg-es, regardless of the state in which the VA employs the APRN. This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in March of 2015, and is currently being considered by subcommittees.

On May 19, 2016, the Depart-ment of Veterans Affairs sub-mitted a proposed rule that would amend current medical regulations to permit full practice authority of all VA APRNs when they are acting within the scope of their VA employment.

This allows for APRN practice to the full extent of education, training, and certification without the clinical oversight of a physician, regardless of state or local restrictions. This amendment is supported by 60+ organizations, including AARP and the Military Officers Association. It is consistent with recommendations from the National Academies of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) and from an independent assessment conducted by the VHA itself that was ordered by Congress and published in 2015. This change would make APRN practice within the VHA consistent with that within the US Military service branches, and would cost-effectively increase veterans access to care.

Upon publication in the Federal Register, the proposed rule enters a 60-day comment period (ending July 25, 2016). During this time, comments can be submitted both in favor and against the proposed rule. This is where YOU come in. Visit veteransaccesstocare.com (and share with your family and friends) to submit your comments; several sample letters have been provided. Opposition to this proposal by the American Medi-cal Association and the American Society of Anesthesiologists is strong – WE need to be stronger. With over 60,000 comments sub-mitted thus far, our proposed rule is trending! We need your sup-portive voice now more than ever!—Amanda Gibson MSN, CRNA

MYA 2016(L-R) John Thompson, CRNA; Nick Fawcett, SRNA; Herbie

Duran, CRNA; Russell Walston, SRNA; Edward Izard, SRNA;

and myself preparing to lobby on Capitol Hill.

(L-R) Herbie Duran, CRNA; AZ Senator Jeff Flake; myself; and John Thompson, CRNA

(L-R) John Thompson, CRNA; Nick Fawcett, SRNA; Herbie
















RONALD F. CAULK, CRNA, FAAN

AANA past president Ronald F. Caulk, CRNA, FAAN, of Cave Creek, Arizona, passed away on April 29, 2016, surrounded by fam-ily. A “dynamic leader with strong convictions,” Caulk not only took a leadership role in the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), serving as its president (1977-78), but also became intri-cately involved in the development and formation of the International Federation of Nurse Anesthe-tists (IFNA), serving as the AANA representative to the IFNA before serving as its first vice president, president, and ultimately as its first executive director from 1995 until he retired in 2004.

Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Caulk was the youngest of James and Clara (Riggs) Caulk’s two children. He received his nurs-ing education from Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, where he was the first male ever to enroll in the program and the sole male

among 60-some classmates. He graduated in 1959, and began his anesthesia education at Mayo Foundation School of Anesthesia in Rochester, Minnesota, graduat-ing in 1962. He started his career at Sacred Heart Hospital in Fort Madison, Iowa. He then became the chief nurse anesthetist and director of nursing service at Hoemako Cooperative Hospital in Casa Grande, Arizona, and later the chief nurse anesthetist at Mesa Lutheran Hospital, Mesa, Arizona. He then went to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Phoenix where he practiced for 12 years. During his illustrious career, he also worked at Columbus Hospital in Chicago, and as an instructor in clinical anesthesia at Northwestern University Medical School.

While serving as president of the AANA from 1977-78, his many accomplishments included being responsible for the purchase of the first AANA headquarters building, helping to restructure the orga-nization to include autonomous councils for accreditation, certifi-cation, recertification and public interest, as well as implementing mandatory continuing education for recertification.

His work with the international community, however, is Caulk’s shining achievement. He began his foray into the development and formation of IFNA at the sugges-tion of Hermi Lohnert, a nurse anesthetist from Switzerland. Caulk was the AANA representative to the International Congress Plan-ning Committee, which organized the first International Symposium of Nurse Anesthetists in Lucerne, Switzerland in 1985. While serving as IFNA president, Caulk played a leadership role in the development and fruition of international stan-dards for education, practice, and a code of ethics.

Caulk became executive director of IFNA in 1994 and oversaw the initiation of working relationships between the member countries, both formally and informally. He traveled extensively in his roles with the AANA and IFNA, helping to raise awareness of the nurse anesthesia profession worldwide.

In 1992, the AANA awarded Caulk with its highest honor, the Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Accomplishment. In 1999, Caulk was made a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), and in 2000 he received The Cath-erine McAuley Award for Nursing Excellence from his alma mater, Mercy College. In 2004, he retired from the IFNA. He and his wife Susan moved to Arizona, where he became an active volunteer for the Heard Museum, which is dedi-cated to Native North American cultures and art.

Jackie Rowles, MBA, MA, CRNA, FAAPM, the current president of the IFNA, says in tribute, “Ron Caulk was a true humanitarian, mentor, and friend. His imprint upon global nurse anesthesia leaves an unparalleled legacy.

Caulk was preceded in death by his father James Riley Caulk, his mother Clara Riggs Caulk and his brother Jerry Caulk. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Susan Smith Caulk, former AANA direc-tor of the Council on Certification and the Council on Recertification; his three children, son Mark Jude Caulk (Sheila), and daughters The-resan Marie Peterson (Duane), and Aimee Beth Caulk; his aunt, Frances Riggs; four grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and countless other friends and colleagues.

Donations in Ronald Caulk’s honor should be made to: Heard Mu-seum Guild, 2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 252-8840, http://heard.org/

1937-20161937-20161937-2016


**IMPORTANT ALERT** Comment period now open on VHA Full Practice Authority – please ask all friends, family members, and colleagues to go to VeteransAccesstoCare.com and submit their comment.

Military Veterans and CRNAs Applaud VHA Plan to Improve Vets’ Access to Timely, Quality Healthcare

What is the impact for AZANA CRNAs? The VHA decision will have a major impact throughout the country. In Arizona, we practice under a century-old law that does not reflect our education, and creates confusion, limits

competition, and impairs access to anesthesia care. If the VHA rule is implemented, it will influ-ence decisions made in Arizona and throughout the nation.

Working with outstanding surgi-cal teams which include physi-cians, nurses, and technicians, Full Practice Authority for CRNAs can benefit Arizona citizens through increased access to care, increased economic activ-ity, and creating a model of care where every member of the team makes their maximum contribu-tion to solve Arizona’s – and the nation’s healthcare problems.

—Joseph A. Rodriguez, CRNA Federal Political Director AZANA President-Elect

FPD UPDATE

The Class of 2017 recently com-pleted their didactic year. The past quarter focused on integrating previous knowledge and introduc-ing the finer elements of complex and emergent management. After finals we shared our last goodbyes and have now separated, head-ing to our individual clinical sites, the next phase of our anesthesia education. We are extremely ex-cited for the opportunities the next fifteen months will provide.

The beginning of June, and the Summer 2016 quarter, brings with it the Class of 2018. They will focus on basic sciences including an integrative Anatomy and Physiol-ogy. The University’s integrative approach enrolls multiple schools in the same course, ensuring a cross-profession level of compe-tence and promoting discussion and interaction between fields. The summer quarter also includes in-troductory anesthesia coursework, simulation lab time, and Class of 2018 student officer and represen-tative elections. Congratulations to the Classes of 2016 and 2018 for beginning and completing goals!

—David Kapplan, SRNA - Midwest-ern University Nurse Anesthesia Class of 2017, AZANA Student Rep.

Comment period now open on VHA Full Practice Authority

The Midwestern University Nurse Anesthesia Class of 2016 is enter-ing their final quarter of clini-cal rotations, soon to complete twenty seven months of dedi-cated education. The National

Certification Exam, their next hurdle, will lie shortly thereafter. Through their dedicated hard work and preparation the class will be joining the ranks of the profession in a few short months.

MWU 16


What is the impact for AZANA CRNAs? The VHA decision will have a ma-jor impact throughout the coun-try. In Arizona, we practice under a century-old law that does not reflect our education, and creates confusion, limits competition, and impairs access to anesthesia care. If the VHA rule is implemented, it will influence decisions made in Arizona and throughout the nation.

Working with outstanding surgical teams which include physicians, nurses, and technicians, updated language for CRNAs benefits Arizona citizens through increased access to care, increased econom-ic activity, and creating a model of care where every member of the team makes their maximum contribution to improve Arizona’s healthcare delivery.

Does the current VHA Anesthe-sia Handbook require physician supervision of CRNAs? According to current the VHA Anesthesia Handbook, physician supervision is not required. The proposal will ensure The Nurs-

ing Handbook is aligned with the Anesthesia Handbook. While the Anesthesia Handbook emphasizes a team-based approach to anes-thesia delivery, it does not require physician supervision or anesthe-siologist supervision of CRNAs.

Are there facilities operating with CRNA-only anesthesia care? There are currently several facilities operating today with CRNAs as the sole providers of anesthesia.

If the proposal is adopted, would teams be eliminated from an-esthesia care? Will CRNAs be forced to practice on their own? No and no. Anesthesiologists and CRNAs will continue friendly and collegial relationships, and work in teams in facilities throughout the country. However, facilities will have more flexibility to remove inef-ficiency, such as strict requirements of 1:1 or 1:2 supervision ratios. Rather, assignments could be made at the local level, based on the skill and experience of the anesthesia professionals at that facility.

Full Practice Authority simply ensures that each Veteran patient

will benefit from the full education and skill set of every healthcare professional, and supports consis-tent high quality care delivery by the patient care team

Will the proposal affect patient care? The VHA proposal will improve patient care by allowing anesthe-sia teams and leadership to utilize their team members in whatever way promotes safe, accessible, and high-quality outcomes.

Did the VHA Independent Assess-ment find any problems with Vet-erans access to anesthesia care? Yes. Reviewing the current system, the Independent Assessment identified delays in cardiovascular surgery for lack of anesthesia sup-port, rapidly increasing demand for procedures requiring anesthe-sia outside the operating room, and slow production of colonos-copy services in comparison with the private sector. Extending Full Practice Authority to CRNAs and other APRNs will expand Veterans access to these critical services.

Can CRNAs practice without super-vision in other federal settings? Yes. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Health Services, as well as Combat Support Hospitals and Forward Surgical Teams, all allow CRNAs to practice without physi-cian supervision. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also allow states to opt out of the federal Medicare supervi-sion billing requirement, meaning states that opt out are no longer required by CMS to have CRNAs supervised by physicians, includ-ing anesthesiologists, when ad-ministering anesthesia. Currently 17 states have opted out of this supervision requirement and allow CRNAs to administer anesthesia to Medicare patients without the supervision of a physician.

VHA FAQs


It has been a busy year for the CRNAs of Arizona PAC! We have worked closely with the Govern-ment Relations Committee (GRC) and our lobbyists to meet with and educate our friends, family, com-munity, and legislators about who we are and what we do as CRNAs. We have worked tirelessly to educate the public on how CRNAs are a safe, high-quality, and fiscally beneficial option for anesthesia in any and all settings where anesthe-sia or analgesia needs are present. We have had multiple meetings with legislators, stakeholders, and allies (in addition to those parties who strongly oppose us) at fun-draisers, coffee shops, and State Capitol boardrooms. We strive to build relationships and break down the various misconceptions sur-rounding our profession.

We are definitely not through. We will continue to fight for the best interest of our members and our profession. In doing so, we will continue to need your full support. Our opposition is pulling out all the stops to ensure we are unsuccessful in our continued at-tempts to advance our profession. The monetary backing through their PAC is substantial.

Our PAC has continued to make huge strides in the past few years. We have had sizeable gains in recurring donations, fundraising

attendance, and committee sup-port. We had another very suc-cessful gala in March at the annual Sun & Fun conference celebrating the 60th anniversary of the AZA-NA. What a celebration it was! We were able to again recognize the strong support for our PAC by honoring 17 Cholla Bronze level donors ($365+), 6 Agave Silver level donors ($750+), and 1 Sa-guaro Gold level donor ($1500+). In addition to the CRNA of the Year award winner, Randy Quinn, we also saw a number of others recognized for their strong sup-port of CRNAs in Arizona with a new set of inaugural awards.

We have had tremendous physi-cian and legislator support, and would not be able to practice the way we do without them. We had the privilege of recognizing Dr. Rob Schuster as Physician of the Year, Senator Nancy Barto as Senator of the Year, Representa-tive Paul Boyer as Representative of the Year, and Representative Lynne Pancrazi as Rural Legislator of the Year. It was also a pleasure to honor Jacob Hantla, CRNA, another strong contributor to our profession, as Clinician of the Year. It was not only a monetary suc-cess for the PAC but also a grand opportunity to showcase and celebrate the AZANA and how far we’ve come as an organization. Plans are in the works for another

Casino Night on October 1, 2016, which promises to be just as great of a time as the one held in Janu-ary, if not better! If you missed it the first time around, you definitely don’t want to miss this one. Take advantage of early registration discounts now atazcrna.com.

As always, thank you for all of your support! The CRNAs of Arizona PAC would not be what it is with-out you. If you would like to make a donation or better yet, set up a recurring contribution, please visit protectcrnas.com. We appreciate all you do to help protect and pro-mote our profession! Thank you. —Henry Sargent, CRNA, MSN CRNAs of Arizona PAC Treasurer

PAC UPDATE2016

Opposition to advancing our profession has deep pocketsOpposition to advancing our profession has deep pocketsOpposition to advancing our profession has deep pocketsOpposition to advancing our profession has deep pockets

INCOMING 2016-2017 AZANA BOARD

President Joe Rodriguez, CRNA Pres-elect Chad Petersen, CRNA Secretary Amanda Gibson, CRNA Treasurer Henry Sargent, CRNA Member Shaun Ferrie, CRNA Member Lee Ranalli, CRNA Member Angi Fountain, CRNA Member Brandon Martin, CRNA Member Herbie Duran, CRNA

Congrats to our new AZANA board members! They will be starting in September 2016.








“The ‘Government Relations Committee’ is a rather intimidat-ing title. The idea of meeting with any government official sounds daunting to the average constitu-ent. When I had my first meeting with a state senator, I would like to think that I presented as poised and well-spoken, but in actual-ity I was visibly shaky and a little diaphoretic. However, as that initial meeting progressed, I realized that the senator had never heard of CRNAs. It was empowering to know that within15 minutes, I was able to increase awareness and understanding of our profession. As my meetings increased with my district representatives, the fear began to subside and I came to realize that the legislators were ea-ger to hear from their constituents. The legislator visits are a great way to become involved and really feel like you are effecting change.”

Arizona has 30 legislative districts comprised of one state senator and two state representatives per district. These legislators are

responsible for writing and chang-ing laws, including how our state’s Nurse Practice Act reads and what governs our practice. They have been chosen to represent their constituents, yet many have lim-ited knowledge of nurse anesthe-tists. A visit with your district legis-lator is a crucial step in furthering awareness of our profession.

A brief meeting in a coffee shop, or in their district office, provides an opportunity for us to educate and advocate. It often begins with introducing ourselves as a constituent of their district and simply explaining what a CRNA is, and what the job entails. We emphasize our role as Masters and Doctorate-educated Ad-vanced Practice Nurses, trained to provide every type of anesthetic in every setting. We illustrate the importance of our role in access to quality healthcare, especially in counties or areas where we are the exclusive anesthesia providers.

This year we plan to build on the successes of 2015. It all starts with getting to know our legislators, educating them on the truth about CRNAs and the vital role we play in healthcare for Arizona. We hope ev-eryone will join us in promoting our profession and the continual effort to update our outdated scope of practice language in order to reflect what is actually taking place.

We have CRNAs living in nearly ev-ery district in the state. So we ask…

Do you know what district you live in? If not, please find out here: http://azredistricting.org/district-locator/

Do you know who your district legislators are? If not, please find out here: http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp

Most important, do your legislators know you? Please contact our GRC leadership if you are willing to help out our efforts!!! [email protected]

—Beth Prall & Justin McBride GRC

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE 2016 REPORT


• Anesthesia’s role in hospital readmission.

• CRNA pain management and Scope of Practice.

• CRNA’s role in optimizing peri-operative care.

• CRNA involvement in shared decision making.

• CRNA’s role in care coordina-tion and use of HIT.

• CRNA’s role in improving ac-cess to care.

Now that you know a bit more about the AANA Foundation, how can you help? Ways to give include: Proof is Power campaign, become a Triple Crown Member by giving to PAC, Foundation & AANA, and online at www.aanafoundation.com. Oth-er giving opportunities include donating to the Health Services Research Fund, sponsoring schol-arships, and offering tributes and memorial gifts. One easy way is to become a Friend for Life by put-ting the Foundation in your will or trust or Make the Foundation a

beneficiary of an insurance policy or retirement account. The mini-mum gift level for those giving a specific cash amount is $25,000.

Last, a fun way to give is by at-tending a Foundation fundraiser. Currently, there are two events planned. The first one takes place at the AANA Annual Congress in Washington, D.C. September 9-13, 2016. This event – Stepping Out in D.C. - is the Foundation’s largest fundraising event of the year! There will be dinner, drinks, dancing and entertainment by the Capitol Steps followed by a DJ dance party. The cost of a ticket is $250 per person, but we are offering tickets to the dance party only at $50 for CRNAs and $25 for SRNAs to encourage participation by a larger group of individuals so they can get to know the Founda-tion. We hope you’ll join us and encourage fellow CRNAs and students to do the same.

The second fundraising event will be at the Assembly of School Fac-ulty in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Febru-ary 23-25, 2017: Details TBA.

Thank you for reading about your AANA Foundation. If you have any questions or need more informa-tion, please feel free to contact me:

Kathy Piotrowski at [email protected] or contact the AANA Foundation directly at (847) 655-1170, [email protected], or aanafoundation.com.

Hello, I am Kathy Piotrowski, CRNA, the Arizona representative to the AANA Foundation. It is my pleasure to discuss with you the AANA Foundation and its role in advancing and protecting CRNA practice. The mission of the AANA Foundation is to advance the science of anesthesia through education and research. As the philanthropic arm of the AANA, the Foundation raises funds and invests in projects that directly support the nurse anesthesia profession. As our state associa-tions work to advocate for legisla-tive changes for CRNAs, findings from research studies provide us with legitimate data that we use to reach out to our stakeholders and legislators. These studies demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that “Proof is Power!” Data, research, and evidence are changing our practice and patient care for the better. The Founda-tion is currently embarking on the campaign RISE ABOVE—an acronym for Research in Safety & Effectiveness. The RISE ABOVE campaign focuses on Health Services Research. Study topics projected to be addressed by the RISE ABOVE campaign include:

• Cost efficient anesthesia work-force models.

• Cost variation in anesthesia services.

• Anesthesia financial risk in a bundled payment.

• Anesthesia & patient satisfaction.

AANA FOUNDATION

Data, research, and evidence are changing our practice and patient care for the better.

“


ARIZONA ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETISTS 7949 E. Acoma Drive, Suite 207 Scottsdale AZ 85260

AZANA_Summer 2016 draft_v8

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