Sweet New Home in Alabama

n a joint effort, the Alabama State Society of Anesthesiologists and the Alabama Association of Nurse Anesthetists donated $10,000 to a retired couple who lost their home to flooding. A check presentation was featured on ABC’s “Good Morning Alabama” in December 2004.

Video Game Reduces Anxiety

study by Anuradha P. Patel, M.D., showed that a GameBoy™, a hand-held video game unit, helped to reduce the anxiety of children prior to surgery more than midazolam. News outlets such as the Associated Press, Newhouse News Service and many others reported on the study in December 2004.

Ex-Cox-2 Users Warned

SA First Vice-President Mark J. Lema, M.D., Ph.D., was quoted in a December 2004 Buffalo News article regarding the quandary facing people who are former cox-2 inhibitor users. In the article, Dr. Lema spoke about the risks of taking these medications and reminded readers to speak to their doctors when considering the side effects that may accompany the use of prescription drugs.

Awareness Awareness on the Rise

n a January 2005 Your Health Magazine article on intraoperative awareness, Charles W. Otto, M.D., spoke about ASA’s efforts to address the issue. He also discussed what can be done to reduce the incidence of the condition and the various factors that increase the risk of awareness.

Make No Mistake: Computers Avoid Medication Errors

Wall Street Journal article printed in January 2005 quoted Peter J. Pronovost, M.D., Ph.D., regarding the use of computer systems to avoid medication errors. The article also included results from one of his studies on discrepancies in patients’ medication histories.

Bloodless Medicine a No-Lose Situation?

ryeh Shander, M.D., and Sarada Mylavarapu, M.D., spoke about the benefits and challenges of avoiding transfusions in a January 2005 Los Angeles Times article that explored “bloodless medicine” programs and the patients who prefer this treatment. Dr. Shander’s research on this topic also was included in the 2004 ASA Media Kit. .

Unifying Electronic Health Records

aul R. Barach, M.D., discussed results from a survey he conducted on Florida hospitals’ progress toward electronic health records in a January 2005 issue of the Miami Herald. He also spoke about the advantages of unified systems and the reluctance by some to use computerized physician order entry..

The ASA Communications Department is interested in hearing from members who have been quoted in the media. To let us know that you have been interviewed, or for assistance with media relations, contact Roseanne Durril in the ASA Communications Department at (847) 825-5586 or e-mail <r.durril@ASAhq.org>.