11-23-09 U.S. Senate votes to proceed with health reform bill
11-23-09 December Anesthesiology featured study press release: French Study is First to Associate Pain Assessment with Improved Outcomes in Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients
11-19-09 U.S. House of Representatives passes SGR fix
11-19-09 Senate Democrats release health care reform legislation
11-18-09 ASA joins sign-on letter urging physician Members of Congress to support H.R. 3961, House SGR legislation
11-18-09 ASA joins other groups in applauding CMS adoption of long-awaited practice expense update
11-18-09 2010 Annual Participation Enrollment Program Extension
11-17-09 Twelve organizations band together to preserve coverage of facet injections
11-17-09 FDA Authorizes Importation of Propofol to Address Shortage
11-13-09 CMS reports results of 2008 Medicare Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)
11-12-09 Materials from Nov. 11 Health Care Tele-Town Hall with Dr. Alex Hannenberg
11-09-09 Update: Propofol and Thiopental supply information and Listen to recording of ASA/FDA call from 11/06
11-06-09 ASA President Alex Hannenberg provides context on upcoming House vote on health bill, urges action against Senate legislation
11-06-09 Additional information about final rule for 2010 Physician Fee Schedule: key points include full teaching rule implementation, PQRI measures, phase-in of practice expense updates
11-05-09 U.S. Senate considering legislation that includes massive cuts to physician payments
11-04-09 ASA joins surgical groups in raising concerns about Senate bill
11-04-09 Health care reform update from ASA President Alexander A. Hannenberg, M.D.
11-03-09 Update: Propofol and Thiopental supply information
10-30-09 CMS releases final rule for 2010 Physician Fee Schedule: key points include full teaching rule implementation, PQRI measures, phase-in of practice expense updates
10-29-09 House Democrats release health reform bill: full House consideration expected soon
10-28-09 Update: Propofol and Thiopental Shortage Individual drug shortage information: Propofol; Thiopental
10-26-09 2010 Conference on Practice Management Registration Open
10-22-09 ASA Annual Meeting Press Release: Analysis Reveals Rare Vision Loss After Surgery Becoming More Uncommon - Read the abstract and full text article here.
10-21-09 Alexander A. Hannenberg, M.D. Installed as President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists
10-19-09 ASA Highlights New Recommendations for Responsible Use of Propofol (ppt)
10-19-09 Eugene P. Sinclair M.D., Honored with American Society of Anesthesiologists Elite Distinguished Service Award
10-12-09 Advice for caring for an Influenza patient.
10-12-09 It’s important to keep up to date with the latest information on the flu. The Center for Disease Control has created a website that gives you all the facts---from how to avoid getting the flu to taking care of someone with the flu. Get the facts here: http://www.flu.gov/
10-06-09 ASA Members Get Discount on MGMA Cost Survey for Anesthesia Practices: 2009 Report Based on 2008 Data
10-06-09 DEA schedules fospropofol as Schedule IV drug
10-06-09 OIG posts FY 2010 work plan
09-17-09 ASA continues to work with other specialties in effort to update data used to calculate Practice Expense payments
09-03-09 Updated Practice Expense Values for Swan- Ganz Catheters
Sign up to receive relevant FDA Safety notices here
FDA MedWatch - Cardiac Science Powerheart and CardioVive AEDs: Initial Communication - Defective components may cause affected devices to not deliver electric shocks (11-20-09)
FDA MedWatch - Local Anesthetics, Continuously Infused (marketed as bupivacaine, chlorprocaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, procaine, ropivacaine) - Chondrolysis (11-13-09)
FDA MedWatch - External Biphasic Defibrillators: Initial Communication- 14 events reported in which 200 J biphasic defibrillator was ineffective in providing fibrillation/cardioversion therapy (11-10-09)
FDA MedWatch - Edwards Lifesciences CardioVations EndoClamp Aortic Catheter - Class 1 Recall:Product, used during cardiopulmonary bypass procedures, may spontaneously rupture during surgery (11-10-09)
FDA MedWatch - Hospira Brand Propofol and Liposyn Products - Recall: Product containers may contain particulate matter that could act as emboli and lead to impeded blood flow (11-10-09)
FDA Alert - Centurion Medical Products Premie Pack and Meconium Pack Recall (11-04-09)
FDA Alert - American Regent Voluntarily Recalls All Lots of Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection, USP 30 mg/mL; 1mL and 2mL Single Dose Vials (10-22-09)
FDA MedWatch - Medical Device Power Cords Safety Investigation: Initial Communication (10-19-09)
FDA MedWatch - Unomedical Manual Pulmonary Resuscitator - Recall: due to malfunction which impairs ability of device to generate positive pressure necessary to function properly (10-07-09)
FDA MedWatch - Philips Heartstart Fr2+ AED: Recall, reports of memory chip failure, could render the AED inoperable and prevent it from delivering shock (10-06-09)
FDA MedWatch - Heparin: Change in Reference Standard - The change will result in 10% reduction in the potency of the heparin marketed in the U.S. (10-01-09)
FDA MedWatch - Medtronic Intrathecal Catheters and Revision Kits: Class I Recall due to possibility of obstruction or disruption of therapy (09-25-09)
FDA MedWatch - Promethazine Hydrochloride Injection: Boxed Warning describingsevere tissue injury, including gangrene, after IV administration of drug (09-16-09)
FDA MedWatch - LIFEPAK CR Plus AEDs: Class I recall due to failure or delay indelivery of therapy/shock (09-16-09)
FDA MedWatch - Portex Uncuffed Pediatric-Sized Tracheal Tubes: Nationwide recall due to risk of obstruction and inability to ventilate patient (09-14-09)
FDA MedWatch - Covidien Pedi-Cap End-Tidal CO2 Detector: Class I recall, device use may result in ineffective ventilation (09-10-09)
FDA MedWatch - Philips Avalon Fetal Monitors: Safety alert due to complaints of inaccurate output readings that may lead to failure to identify fetal distress (09-08-09)
FDA MedWatch - Stabilet Infant Warmer models 200, 300, 1250, 1500, 200/3000, 2000, 2200/3200, 3000, and 3200 [Dräeger/Hill-Rom] (08-26-09)
FDA MedWatch - Hospira, Inc. Device Recall (08-17-09)
Propofol voluntary expanded recall by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (07-29-09)
FDA MedWatch - Alaris System (Cardinal Health): Class 1 recall due to potential for patients experiencing under- or over-infusion, which may result in serious injury or death (08-06-09)
FDA MedWatch - Stabilet Infant Warmers [Draeger]: Nationwide recall due to potential risk of fire and burns for patient and caregiver (07-23-09)
FDA MedWatch - Propofol Injectable Emulsion, 10 mg/mL 100 mL vials: Recall due to elevated endotoxin levels in some vials (07-17-09)
CDC Health Advisory: Clinicians Advised to Halt Use of Propofol from Tainted Lots (07-13-09)
Propofol Recall (07-14-09)
FDA MedWatch - BiPAP Focus Non-Invasive Ventilator System, Respironics California: Class I Recall due to power supply failures that have occurred on some ventilators (07-10-09)
FDA MedWatch - Propoxyphene-containing Products: FDA taking actions to reduce risk of overdose because of data linking propoxyphene and fatal overdoses (07-08-09)
FDA MedWatch - Respironics, Inc. SmartMonitor 2 Infant Apnea Monitor, Models 4002 and 4003 (05-18-09)
FDA MedWatch - Antiepileptic Drugs: FDA updated labeling to warn about increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (05-05-09)
FDA MedWatch - ZOLL AED Plus Defibrillator: Recall because device may fail to deliver shock, could result in failure to resuscitate patient during sudden cardiac arrest (04-09-09)
FDA MedWatch - FDA MedWatch - Welch Allyn AED 10 and and MRL JumpStartDefibrillators Class I recall (03-16-09)
FDA MedWatch - Colleague Single and Triple Channel Volumetric Infusion Pumps by Baxter recalled (03-12-09)
FDA MedWatch - Shiley 3.0PED Cuffless Pediatric Tracheostomy Tube by Covidien Inc.: Class 1 Recall of specific lots (03-10-09)
FDA MedWatch - Transdermal Drug Patches with Metallic Backings: risk of burns during MRI scans (03-09-09)