ne of the most important services ASA provides to its members is access to current, high-quality scientific, educational and professional information.

In the past, traditional printed materials such as individual mailings or the NEWSLETTER were the only way to get important information to the members. Today many ASA members rely on e-mail and the ASA Web site.

The ASA Web site was introduced in 1993. The Web Site Editorial Board, established in 2003 — chaired by Keith J. Ruskin, M.D., with members from the committees on Electronic Media and Information Technology, Communications, Outreach Education and the ASA Resident Component Governing Council — provides long-range planning. ASA committees can submit work products such as white papers or clinical guidelines for publication. ASA staff also place important news items such as clinical alerts, reimbursement issues or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance updates on the Web site.

Nearly every anesthesiologist who uses the ASA Web site finds that it is useful, but there are features of which people may not be aware. This column will introduce some of these helpful features to people who already have an acquaintance with the Web site. On the other hand, for members who have not visited the Web site, this column may provide the impetus for them to give it a try.

This month I will provide a basic introduction to the Web site and the resources it offers. In subsequent columns, I will provide notices of what is new on the Web site as well as highlighting features that may be especially germane that month.

The Web site can be found at <www.ASAhq.org>.

The “Contact ASA” button provides quick access to e-mail, telephone and street address information for the ASA Headquarters, the Washington Office and key ASA staff.

The “Members Only” section of the Web site, accessible with your membership number, lets you make address and profile changes directly without waiting for membership office personnel to process it. It also allows you to pay dues online. ASA no longer provides a printed version of the Directory of Members. The searchable online version of the membership directory is accessed through this section. This section also provides information about ASA’s governmental and legal affairs and the activities of the ASA Political Action Committee (ASAPAC). Online contributions to ASAPAC can be made from this section as well.

On the left-hand side of the homepage is a list of links that allows Web access to nearly all of the ASA’s published patient education material, practice parameters and standards, guidelines and statements. There is another link to ASA-sponsored “Continuing Education Resources.” The “Annual Meeting” link allows submission of abstracts, exhibits and problem-based learning discussions for the Annual Meeting. It also provides for online registration for the meeting and accommodation.

The link to “Calendar for Meetings” is a handy tool that lets you search for anesthesia-related meetings by date, location, keyword or category. The “ASA Placement Service” is a set of listings of candidates and practice opportunities that is updated daily to assist members in finding anesthesiology practice opportunities.

The “Publications and Services” link has online versions of nearly every ASA publication, with the ability to order multiple copies. Soon Web site visitors will be able to purchase publications through a secure bookstore application.

The central portion of the Web site offers news and information germane to the practicing anesthesiologist. An ASA poll at the bottom of the page allows you to state your opinion on a relevant clinical question that provides insight into members’ opinions on various clinical questions and practices.
Along the right-hand side of the page is a link to the “ASA NEWSLETTER” with an online version of the current issue and archives of past issues.

Finally the “Search” box at the top right of the page lets one search the entire Web site by keyword, including the contents of ASA publications, policies, news stories, etc. This is a quick and handy way to find a publication of which you only remember bits and pieces.

The Web site is a valuable tool that puts many clinical and scientific resources at your fingertips. It also allows the user to do much of the business that in the past required a telephone call or letter to ASA. If you have not seen the Web site lately, take a look. You will be surprised at the valuable information found there.

Laurence C. Torsher, M.D., is Assistant Professor, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.