How do we support the AA profession?

[flashgordon]

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How do we support the AA profession? Can I donate to their PAC?

Has the ASA financially and politically fought for AAs in the past?

Without giving away any secrets, do you guys have some things "cooking"?

I wanna see AAs in every damn state...

 

[jwk]

How do we support the AA profession? Can I donate to their PAC?

Has the ASA financially and politically fought for AAs in the past?

Without giving away any secrets, do you guys have some things "cooking"?

I wanna see AAs in every damn state...

Thanks for being such an ardent supporter.

The AAAA doesn't have a PAC per se, but there are ways to contribute. If you're interested, PM me for details.

The ASA has had significant involvement in the AA movement, especially in the last 10 years. Many ASA members and officers are involved in both state and federal AA issues.

The best way to get AA's into more states is by coordinated efforts between the AAAA and the ASA with it's state societies. It takes a lot of work getting legislation of any kind passed in any state, and even more so with AA legislation when the AANA unleashes their propaganda emailing machine.

Fortunately, more AA's are graduating than ever before. From less than 50 a year just 6-7 years ago, about 200 just finished their programs this summer. Two new programs just got going, and more are in the works.

The other important thing is for anesthesiologists to consider hiring AA's if they haven't before. Some are wary because they consider us a new profession (we've been around 40 years - I graduated 30 years ago). Others are afraid because their CRNA's will threaten to walk out. A couple thoughts on that - first, such a job action constitutes illegal restraint of trade, and is generally a hollow threat anyway. Few if any have the guts to uproot their families and move to make a political statement. And, if they do carry through, LET THEM WALK and hire AA's to replace them.

Thanks again for your support.

 

[Josh L.Ac.]

Double post

 

[Josh L.Ac.]

On the flip-side, several months ago I made a motion through our student organization to attempt to hit 100% donation to the ASA PAC for all of our students enrolled in AA programs.

We hope to be at that level before our national conference next year.

 

[MRW]

Another thing you can do to support the profession is to contact one or more of the AA programs and open up your location to student rotations.

 

[Southpaw]

From talking with attendings in my state, more and more groups desperately want to hire AAs. There's no reason to believe my situation is unique.

 

[Taurus]

1. If you live in a state that allows AA's to work, talk to your fellow residents, fellows, and attendings about the AA's. Put pressure on the faculty and hospital administration to hire them. The CRNA's are facing a glut. Not many CRNA's are willing to quit in protest of the hiring of AA's in such a weak job market. If there is a time to hire AA's, it's now.

2. If you don't live in such a state, contact your state ASA and voice to them that you want AA's to be able to work in your state. Contribute to your state ASA with money and time. Talk to the state lawmakers if you have to.

 

[Consigliere]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[maceo]

I dont know the inner working of public policy or government in general. What would be the steps to take and the first people to talk to about getting AA licensure in specific states? Is it a certain department in state government we have to write to get this going?

 

[Southpaw]

I dont know the inner working of public policy or government in general. What would be the steps to take and the first people to talk to about getting AA licensure in specific states? Is it a certain department in state government we have to write to get this going?

You need to talk to your state senators and congressmen. Someone would need to introduce a bill allowing AAs to practice in the state, and that would be have to be voted on and approved.

 

[jwk]

I dont know the inner working of public policy or government in general. What would be the steps to take and the first people to talk to about getting AA licensure in specific states? Is it a certain department in state government we have to write to get this going?

It certainly helps talking to state legislators, not only to start the process, but to move it forward once legislation has been submitted.. The ASA and AAAA have a lot of experience in this area, and we know it takes a concerted effort of all involved to make it happen in any given state, including participation and support from the state component societies, who likely actually know their legislators. We have model legislation already written that can be adapted to the needs of each state.

The AAAA and ASA have states in mind where we hope we can get legislation passed, and put our efforts towards those states each year. Invariably, legislation pops up in a state that's not on anyones radar. Before any of us can even mobilize, the AANA propaganda machine has already kicked into high gear, and in a matter of days, legislators are deluged with CRNA emails from all over the county. In Louisiana several years ago, we had two bills submitted to enable AA's, and another one to prohibit them, all of them done without the knowledge of any of us. Guess which bill made it through?

 

[Taurus]

There are already enough states that have passed AA legislation or allow AA's to work that if anesthesiologists in those states would demand AA's and kick out their CRNA's that it would be significant blow to the AANA. Open AA programs in those states. There should be 50+ AA programs in those states. If CRNA's migrate out of those states, just imagine how significant the glut of CRNA's will be nationwide. This is one of the most immediate steps we need to take right now.

 

[SeoulMan]

How do we support the AA profession? Can I donate to their PAC?

Has the ASA financially and politically fought for AAs in the past?

Without giving away any secrets, do you guys have some things "cooking"?

I wanna see AAs in every damn state...

Contact the AAAA. As a current first year AA student at NOVA, I also want AAs in every state.

The ASA will fight for AAs; we are the preferred midlevel provider simply because we "know our place" in anesthesia. The AAAA can't do everything alone. We very much need highly motivated anesthesiologists to lead the charge in getting AAs into new states (at least that is my observation so far).

If you are truly interested in AAs, contact the AAAA; the president is a great guy and can give you excellent advice as well as giving you contact information of anesthesiologists in other states who lead the charge for AAs.

Seoulman