ASA January 2003 Newsletter

The House of Delegates of the American Society of Anesthesiologists met during its Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, October 12-16, 2002. Among the significant actions of the House of Delegates were the following:

Officer Elections
Elections were held, and the following officers will serve during 2003:

President — James E. Cottrell, M.D.

President-Elect — Roger W. Litwiller, M.D.

Immediate Past President — Barry M. Glazer, M.D.

First Vice-President — Eugene P. Sinclair, M.D.

Vice-President for Scientific Affairs — Bruce F. Cullen, M.D.

Secretary — Peter L. Hendricks, M.D.

Treasurer — Orin F. Guidry, M.D.

Assistant Secretary — Gregory K. Unruh, M.D.

Assistant Treasurer — Roger A. Moore, M.D.

Speaker of the House of Delegates — Candace E. Keller, M.D.

Vice-Speaker of the House of Delegates — John P. Abenstein, M.D.

Special Awards
Bernard V. Wetchler, M.D., of Chicago, Illinois, was named as the recipient of the 2002 Distinguished Service Award.

Daniel I. Sessler, M.D., Louisville, Kentucky, was presented with the 2002 Award for Excellence in Research.

Budget
The 2003 Budget was approved, which includes total income of $19,919,500 and expenses of $20,057,380.

Dues
The following 2003 membership dues were approved:

Active members — $450

Affiliate members —$225

Educational members —$225

Educational student members —$25

Resident members —$25

Medical student members —$10

Size and Composition of Board of Directors and Administrative Council
Approved a recommendation from the Committee on Size and Composition of the Board of Directors and Administrative Council to increase the size of the Board of Directors to include a director from each component society. Also ratified the Board of Directors’ previous approval of a new Vice-President for Professional Affairs.

Bylaws Revisions
Ratified the Board of Directors’ previous approval of the Annual Report submitted by the Committee on Bylaws. This action reflects the recommendations of the Committee on Structure and Governance that were approved by the 2001 House of Delegates as they relate to the parts of ASA’s organizational structure such as sections, committees and board composition.

Relative Value Guide
Received information from the Committee on Economics regarding the additions and revisions for the 2003 Relative Value Guide. (Copies of the 2003 Relative Value Guide are now available through the ASA Executive Office.)

Task Force on Interventional Pain Medicine
Received a progress report from the Administrative Council on recommendations made by the task force in the areas of education, ASA leadership opportunities, government and payer relations, and cultural differences in pain medicine.

2002 President Barry M. Glazer, M.D., left, passes the reins of leadership to President-Elect James E. Cottrell, M.D. Photography by Chad Evans Wyatt

New Military Component
Approved a recommendation from the Task Force for Federal Employees to create a new military component with the same rights and privileges as existing state components. Membership would be limited to those on active military duty.

Maintenance of Certification
Received information from the Council for Continual Professional Development of Anesthesiologists that the specifics of the lifelong learning component of the American Board of Anesthesiology Maintenance of Certification Program should be completed in winter 2004.

Statement on Regional Anesthesia
Approved a revision in the ASA “Statement on Regional Anesthesia,” which states in part: “The decision as to the most appropriate anesthetic technique for a particular patient is a judgment of medical practice that must consider all patient factors, procedure requirements, risks and benefits, consent issues, surgeon preferences and competencies of the practitioners involved. The decision to perform a specific regional anesthetic technique is best made by a physician trained in the medical specialty of anesthesiology. The decision to interrupt or abort a technically difficult procedure, recognition of complications and changing medical conditions, and provision of appropriate post-procedure care is a duty of a physician. Regional anesthetic techniques are best performed by an anesthesiologist who possesses the competence and skills necessary for safe and effective performance.” <www.ASAhq.org/publicationsAndServices/standards/26.pdf>

New Position Statement on Management of Continuous Regional Analgesia
Ratified the Board of Directors’ previous approval of the “Statement on the Role of Registered Nurses in the Management of Continuous Regional Analgesia” <www.ASAhq.org/publicationsAndServices/standards/nurses.pdf>. Referred to the Committee on Pain Medicine the “Statement on Use of Radiographic Guidance for Spinal Injections.”

Practice Parameters
Approved the updated “Practice Guidelines for Management of the Difficult Airway” <www.ASAhq.org/publicationsAndServices/DifficultAirway.pdf> and the updated “Practice Guidelines for Pulmonary Artery Catheterization” <www.ASAhq.org/publicationsAndServices/practiceparam.htm#pul>.

Expert Witness Testimony
Confirmed the Board of Directors’ previous disapproval of a recommendation from the Committee on Professional Liability for the establishment of a peer-review mechanism for expert witness testimony. However, the House of Delegates determined that further consideration of this subject should be a priority for ASA.

Survey of Transfusion Practices
Received information from the Committee on Transfusion Medicine that a survey has been completed to determine current transfusion practices. Survey forms were mailed to 2,500 ASA members with a response rate of 41 percent. A manuscript describing the study design and results will be submitted for publication.

Spinal Manipulation Under General Anesthesia
Referred to a committee of the President’s choice the task of evaluating the issue of spinal manipulation under anesthesia, that practice recommendations for the use of sedation or anesthesia during spinal manipulation be established and that any such recommendations be communicated to ASA members.

Board of Directors
Following adjournment of the House of Delegates on October 16, 2002, the Board of Directors met in Orlando, Florida.

Board members were elected to serve on the Board of Directors committees on Administrative Affairs, Finance, Legislative Review and Scientific Affairs.

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