iDesignation of the Operating Room as a Secure Area
Approved a resolution on Designation of the Operating Room as a Secure Area as follows:

RESOLVED, that ASA policy reflect the importance of unimpeded access to necessary medications and equipment that may be required immediately at any point during the transfer of a patient to the postoperative area; and be it further

RESOLVED, that ASA policy state that the operating room should be a secure location within the facility by virtue of access restricted to authorized personnel, allowing necessary life-saving medication and equipment to be at the immediate disposal of anesthesiologists and other appropriate practitioners; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the President refer these policies to the committee or committees of choice for inclusion in the appropriate documents of this Society and to promote these policies to appropriate regulatory agencies.

A new position statement on this issue now appears on the ASA Web site at <www.ASAhq.org/Washington/LockedCartPolicyFinalOct2003.pdf>.

Academic Anesthesiology
Ratified the Board of Directors’ previous approval of a new Committee on Academic Anesthesiology to maintain a liaison with and represent the interests of the academic anesthesiology community. Also the House of Delegates approved a recommendation that academic anesthesiology shall have a representative, with vote, on the ASA Board of Directors. The Society of Academic Anesthesiology Chairs shall select the new Director and Alternate Director.

Strategic Public Outreach
Ratified the Board of Directors’ previous approval that ASA plan, support and oversee a state-level, proactive communications pilot project in one or two targeted states. In addition a budget was created to aid component societies when special circumstances call for specific public outreach initiatives.

Membership for Nurse Anesthetists
Ratified the Board of Directors’ previous action approving the inclusion of nurse anesthetists in the category of Educational Membership for the purpose of making educational opportunities available to members of the anesthesia care team.

Professional Medical Liability Insurance (MLI)
Ratified the Board of Directors’ previous approval of the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that ASA assign to a committee of the President’s choice a mandate to gather information and report significant MLI issues, including terms, availability, changes and costs of MLI throughout the United States to the Board of Directors and to the House of Delegates on an annual basis, and be it further

RESOLVED, that ASA investigate providing or contracting for an office to provide rapid access to comprehensive MLI information on a state-by-state basis as a benefit for ASA members, and be it further

RESOLVED, that ASA investigate providing or contracting for comprehensive nationwide MLI brokerage services as a benefit for ASA members.

Interim Board of Directors Meeting
Approved a recommendation for a committee of the President’s choice to evaluate the feasibility and desirability of combining the Interim Board of Directors meeting with other ASA activities.

Implementation of Expert Testimony Program
In conjunction with previous action by the Board of Directors, approved the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the Society establish a program, on terms heretofore approved by the Board of Directors, for review of and action on complaints alleging irresponsible expert witness testimony given by ASA members after October 15, 2003, in finally adjudicated or finally settled judicial proceedings; and be it further

RESOLVED, that beginning in 2004, $200,000 be set aside annually in each of two reserve accounts respectively to cover the operating cost of the expert witness testimony review program and to build a reserve against potential liability costs in connection therewith.

Relative Value Guide
Received information from the Committee on Economics regarding the additions and revisions for the 2004 Relative Value Guide. (Copies of the 2004 Relative Value Guide are now available through the ASA Executive Office.)

Practice Parameters
Approved the updated “Practice Guidelines for Acute Pain Management in the Perioperative Setting,” first published in 1994. Also approved a recommendation from the Committee on Practice Parameters and the Committee on Ethics to revise the “Practice Advisory for Preanesthesia Evaluation” as follows:

“The task force recognizes that patients may present for anesthesia with early undetected pregnancy. The task force believes that the literature is inadequate to inform patients or physicians on whether anesthesia causes harmful effects on early pregnancy. Pregnancy testing may be offered to female patients of childbearing age and for whom the result would alter the patient’s management.”

Standards, Guidelines and Statements
Approved or ratified previous Board action revisions in the following documents:

“Guidelines for the Ethical Practice of Anesthesiology”

“Guidelines for Expert Witness Qualifications and Testimony”

“Guidelines for Delineation of Clinical Privileges in Anesthesiology”

“Guidelines for Nonoperating Room Anesthetizing Locations”

“Anesthesia Consultation Program”

“Statement on Conflict of Interest”

“Documentation of Anesthesia Care”

“Position on Monitored Anesthesia Care”

“The Organization of an Anesthesia Department”

“Statement on Routine Preoperative Laboratory and Diagnostic Screening”

“Statement Regarding Respiratory Care Practitioner Credentialing”

“Statement on Intravascular Catheterization Procedures”

Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) Education
Approved a recommendation that the President appoint an ad hoc committee on anesthesiologist assistant education to provide ASA input into the process of achieving the following goals:

1. Development of a consensus on what the educational goals of AA training should be.

2. Establishment of guidelines for curriculum development to meet those goals.

3. Design of a process and the requisite tools for measuring the ongoing achievement of educational goals during training.

4. Evaluation of the potential for the development of educational tools specifically designed for AAs such as dedicated textbooks and journals.

5. The creation of self-assessment and continuing education materials for AAs.

Committee on Regional Anesthesia
Approved the establishment of a new Committee on Regional Anesthesia whose charge will be to:

Promote study and investigation in the field of regional anesthesia; review development in all areas of regional anesthesia and devise and implement programs to present them to the membership; and maintain liaison with the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and such other external organizations as may be concerned with regional anesthesia.

Statement on Anesthesia Machine Obsolescence
Received information that the Committee on Equipment and Facilities has produced a new Statement on Anesthesia Machine Obsolescence that can be accessed on the ASA Web site at <www.ASAhq.org/publicationsAndServices/machineobsolescense.pdf>.

Survey of Transfusion Practices
Received information from the Committee on Transfusion Medicine that a survey of transfusion practices has been completed with the results having been accepted for publication in the journal Anesthesiology. The survey identified many areas where education could improve transfusion practices.

Board of Directors
Following adjournment of the House of Delegates on October 15, 2003, the Board of Directors met in San Francisco, California. Board members were elected to serve on the Board of Directors committees on Administrative Affairs, Finance, Legislative Review and Scientific Affairs.