October 2000
Volume 64 |
Number 10
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ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE
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| "We
Are ASA – We Are Family" |
Paul L. Hendricks, M.D.
Assistant Secretary
Each month it is the privilege of an ASA officer to write an
article for the ASA NEWSLETTER covering a topic that the
officer feels membership should know about. As I sat down to choose
a subject, I was first inclined to write about the exciting and
enlightening part of the last year that I had spent working with
the ASA Resident Component leaders on membership and career matters.
Their enthusiasm and pride for anesthesiology is reflected in
their efforts to inform medical students that even in these "interesting"
times, it is a career worthy of their consideration. Our residents
are showing us the way to the preservation of our specialty's
future.
However, my article's focus was changed when I received a bundle
of exit surveys filled out by members who left ASA for various
reasons. One survey response in particular caught my eye. Listed
under the category of other was the statement, I don’t need the
ASA because I belong to the Pain Society. After an initial moment
of bewilderment passed, I knew my message had to be: "We
Are ASA – We Are Family."
ASA is a melting pot for many different aspects of anesthesia
practice, some 36 different anesthesia organizations that have
varying ties to ASA and function to address multiple pieces of
our complex puzzle. For the most part, these anesthesia organizations
work hard to represent their members and educate others as to
the value of the expertise they bring to anesthesia. ASA provides
a cohesive focus for problem solving and discussion among this
diverse group. So again I say: "We Are ASA – We Are
Family."
Seven of the 36 anesthesia organizations have a special relationship
with ASA in that they have a voice and vote in the ASA House of
Delegates. They are:
1. American Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists
2. American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
3. Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia
4. Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists
5. Society of Neurosurgical Anesthesia and Critical Care
6. Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology
7. Society for Pediatric Anesthesia
These organizations represent a large portion of subspecialty
practice, are well organized, provide a variety of benefits to
their members and contribute to the improved safety and well-being
of our patients. All of these organizations focus their energies
to update their members on new and exciting methods of dealing
with specific clinical problems within their subspecialty. They
have the enviable position of being able to serve their members’
needs without being required to maintain a large office and staff
to deal with the federal government, state legislatures, the Health
Care Financing Administration, the American Medical Association/Specialty
Society Relative Value Update Committee and so on. ASA not only
addresses these governmental issues for its members but also provides
an unparalleled educational opportunity as well. Therefore, it
is hard for me to understand a member who takes the shortsighted
view that ASA is not looking out for his or her interests and
that he or she needs only the subspecialty society. In these days
of stress and chaos in medicine, and especially anesthesiology,
no one can go it alone.
The ASA Administrative Council knows that communication with
each and every member of the Society, as well as the subspecialty
and academic organizations, is of the highest priority. Hearing
the membership is a commitment! Every member is encouraged to
submit his or her concerns. To facilitate communication with the
subspecialty groups, a meeting is held at least annually between
the officers of ASA and the presidents of the subspecialty societies.
A similar meeting is held with the presidents of the academic
organizations. These meetings have been open and frank and provide
a forum whereby the organizations can voice concerns in areas
in which they feel ASA needs to concentrate more energy. Responses
by ASA leadership to the expressed concerns have been generally
swift. Although not every problem is fixed, each is carefully
considered by an appropriate ASA committee in order to find a
solution.
Communication is a two-way street. Similar to President Kennedy's
challenge to the American people in 1960, the Administrative Council
is asking every anesthesiologist to think of what he or she can
do for ASA and the future of our profession. First, you can help
ASA by being a continuing member. Through numbers we will remain
strong and will effectively and forcefully voice the Society's
patient care goals. Next, you can help ASA by participating at
your national, state and local levels if asked. If you are not
asked, then pick up your membership directory and call, in any
order you desire, your component society president, your district
director, anyone at ASA headquarters or any ASA officer. Just
say you want to participate because: "We Are ASA – We
Are Family."
ASA is dedicated to representing each member in every facet of
national government, to helping fight at the state level against
unjust legislation and rules that affect patient safety and to
helping at the local level in the areas of practice management
and hospital relations. No one member can do this alone. No one
subspecialty organization can do this alone. No one academic program
can do this alone. No state society can do this alone.
Only when each and every one of us works relentlessly together
for the betterment of all can we accomplish the goals of this
great society of anesthesiologists. If we waiver for even a moment
in our resolve, I should then remind you of the words of Benjamin
Franklin: "Gentleman, if we do not hang together, we most
certainly will hang separately." But I know that will not
happen because:
"We Are ASA – We Are Family."
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