November 1, 2004

A Commitment to Success

The AANA and ASA leadership met on October 10-11, 2004.  Present were Eugene P. Sinclair, M.D., Orin F. Guidry, M.D., Mark J. Lema, M.D., and Mr. Ronald A. Bruns from the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Frank Maziarski, CRNA, Brian D. Thorson, CRNA and Jeff Beutler, CRNA, from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and Irma Tyler-Wood and Katherine Tyler-Scott of ThoughtBridge .

  The group reaffirmed its commitment to the goals that it originally set :

• Develop a long-term, respectful relationship
• Develop communication lines
• Collaborate on issues of mutual interest

The Leadership Council recognized the value of a collaborative approach to the challenges confronting the anesthesia profession, both anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists, and identified two principal challenges; 1. Adapting to the future and 2. Workplace stress generated by conflict over many issues, including the ASA Statement on the Anesthesia Care Team.

An extensive discussion focused on both groups’ fears, concerns and goals relative to these issues, resuting in a first step to develop a document satisfactory to both the AANA and ASA. Tentative plans were made to have the ASA Administrative Council and the AANA Board of Directors meet early next year to directly address some of these issues.

A brainstorming session was conducted to develop strategies, which would provide a more rapid dissemination of the ThoughtBridge Process to AANA state associations and ASA component societies. Methods were also discussed to provide opportunities for state leaders to meet in professional and social settings.