Candace E. Keller, M.D., M.P.H.

10. Publications
ASA has a number of excellent communications tools. Only two, however, will be noted here: the ASA NEWSLETTER and the journal Anesthesiology. The ASA NEWSLETTER is published monthly with articles along general themes of interest selected by the ASA Committee on Newsletter. Anesthesiology is an outstanding peer-reviewed compilation of articles and is recognized worldwide for its scholarly contents and expertise. Both the NEWSLETTER and journal are free to ASA members.

9. Practice Management Resources
A number of useful practice management tools are available for purchase, including the Relative Value Guide, CROSSWALK™, the abstracts from past ASA practice management conferences and separate publications on assessing and promoting anesthetic practice value, contracting issues and billing issues.

ASA, through the Committee on Quality Management and Departmental Administration, offers the Anesthesia Consultation Program to assist hospitals and anesthesiology departments with difficult management and practice issues.

8. ASA Web site <www.ASAhq.org>
The ASA Web site is continuously updated and is our best source for up-to-date information regarding our organization and specialty. Members should peruse the Web site on a regular basis, including the “Members Only” section.

7. Representation to Other Organizations
ASA sends representatives on our behalf to at least 44 outside organizations. The list of these organizations and ASA’s representatives to each can be found on the Web site under “About ASA” section. These individuals devote an inordinate amount of time and energy to monitor, provide input and direction to and to advance the specialty of anesthesiology within these other groups. ASA has representatives to the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), the ABA-ASA Joint Council on In-Training Examinations, the Residency Review Committee for Anesthesiology and liaisons with the Association of University Anesthesiologists and the Society of Academic Anesthesiology Chairs/Association of Anesthesiology Program Directors.

6. Education and Research Support
In 1986, ASA became the founding sponsor of the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) “to promote the generation of new knowledge in anesthesiology that advances patient care and foster development of anesthesiologists dedicated to research and education in perioperative, critical care and pain medicine.” To date, FAER has provided more than $6 million in funding to researchers who have subsequently received more than $100 million from other grant resources.

5. Continuing Medical Education Opportunities
The ASA Annual Meeting offers myriad educational opportunities, including Refresher Course Lectures, Problem-Based Learning Discussions, panels and workshops. Registration, which is free to ASA members, is now open for our 2006 meeting in Chicago.

The Anesthesiology Continuing Education (ACE) Program, Anesthesiology’s Journal-Based CME Program and the Self-Education and Evaluation (SEE) Program offer substantial member discounts for online programs.

4. Governmental and Legislative Advocacy
ASA has assembled a dynamic and experienced team in our Washington Office to monitor and engage in advocacy with respect to federal and state legislative and regulatory activities that affect the practice of medicine. It also offers practice management assistance and advice for the membership related to Medicare and other “business” aspects of the delivery of anesthesia care. The Washington Office prepares materials related to federal and state legislation and regulations as well as the regulatory materials related to Medicare reimbursement located on the “Practice Management” section of ASA’s Web site.

3. Patient Safety and Quality Initiatives
The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) was created in 1984 by ASA to raise the level of consciousness and knowledge regarding patient safety issues by fostering investigation to provide a better understanding of preventable anesthetic injuries, encouraging programs that will reduce the number of anesthetic injuries and promoting national and international communication of information and ideas about causes and prevention of anesthetic morbidity and mortality. ASA, as the original founding patron, continues to be the largest annual contributor to APSF, which has given more than $2 million in research grants in addition to its unparalleled communication efforts.

ASA has been a leader in the development of basic monitoring standards (1986), guidelines and statements. To date, under the direction of the Committee on Standards and Practice Parameters, ASA has funded and issued 12 practice guidelines and five practice advisories through a rigorous and well-defined process of evidence review. In addition to these, there are approximately 40 other policy statements and policy guidelines approved by the House of Delegates, available both in print and on the ASA Web site.

2. The Expert Witness Review Program
The ASA Expert Witness Review program, established by the ASA House of Delegates in 2003, has revealed some interesting situations. In one case, the attorney for a defendant used the mere existence of the ASA expert witness review program to deter alleged inappropriate testimony during an anesthesiologist’s deposition. When questioned by the defense regarding his awareness of the ASA program and the fact that an ASA member could potentially be expelled from membership for inappropriate testimony, the “expert” witness decided to change his previous statement. The deposition continued, he changed his opinion, and the case was subsequently dismissed.

Several instances have been reported in which an “expert opinion” was likely the impetus for filing a lawsuit and a settlement made without any testimony on the record or under penalty of perjury. In such situations, no formal complaint against an ASA member can be made because there is no testimony of record (a program requirement) to review. ASA members who are pressured to settle in order to avoid a costly trial or for other reasons are strongly urged to request their defense counsel to obtain the deposition of the expert prior to settlement, if possible, especially when there is reason to believe that the opinion proffered by the plaintiff expert is inappropriate or would lead to testimony outside the ASA “Guidelines for Expert Witness Qualifications and Testimony.”

1. ASAPAC!
The ASA Political Action Committee (ASAPAC) was formed in 1991 following approval by the House of Delegates in response to a resolution submitted by an ASA member who realized the potential of combining our contributions. As a result, more than $8.2 million have been received by ASAPAC since its inception and utilized primarily in political elections. ASAPAC is one of the largest medical specialty PACs in the country and had a remarkable percentage of success in contributing to the ultimate winners in the 2004 election cycle, with total expenditures of $1,277,237.

ASAPAC is committed to aggressively representing the political interests of anesthesiology.

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