Physician Anesthesiologists Week

Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2021

Join ASA and advocate for patient-centered, physician-led care. Physician Anesthesiologists Week 2021 is a week-long event of advocacy and public outreach on key issues affecting the specialty. Throughout the week, ASA members will virtually meet with policymakers, connect with local media and spread the word on social media. There has never been a more important time to advocate for the specialty of anesthesiology and your patients.

This year’s event will highlight how physician anesthesiologists are made for this moment – whether it’s during a surgical crisis, providing pain management or serving on the front lines of a pandemic – how they save lives and are uniquely qualified to lead patient care.

Check out the Physician Anesthesiologists Week support materials, including:

• Recorded Webinar (mp4)
  Thursday, December 10, ASA hosted a webinar to provide an overview of Physician Anesthesiologists Week tools and activities available for use to ensure a successful week of advocacy and public outreach.

• Toolkit (doc)
  The toolkit provides instructions and templates for members who are meeting with policymakers and engaging with local and social media.

• Physician Anesthesiologists are Made for Critical Moments in Patient Care Policymaker Brochure (pdf)
  The brochure explains the importance of patient-centered, physician-led care and provides facts on the difference this makes in the quality of care. It compares the education and training of physician anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists and gives brief stories that some ASA members have shared on lives saved.
  
  
• Research Summary (pdf)
  The summary provides an overview of available research, including outcomes studies showing how physician anesthesiologists’ care decreases the risk of death and complications, opt-out analyses finding that patients don’t benefit when states opt out of physician-led anesthesia care, and cost studies reviewing how physician-led anesthesia care reduces costs.
  
  
• Education and Training Infographic (pdf)
  The infographic shows the difference in training and education between physician anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists.
  
  
• Health Care Executive Outreach Talking Points (pdf)
  The document provides three key points members should share about the specialty when meeting and communicating with health care executives.
  
  
• Be Part of the Conversation – #PhysAnesWk21
  See how your colleagues are promoting the week in their community and be a part of the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #PhysAnesWk21.

• Social Media Sample Posts & Graphics (zip)
  Download sample posts and images for your preferred social media platform, including Facebook and Twitter cover photos. 

• Customizable Web Banner (zip) 
  ASA members can download, customize, and post the Physician Anesthesiologists Week 2021 web banner on websites and social media. Use the following instructions:
  
  
  
  • InDesign Package (zip)  – For State Component Societies or ASA members who have access to a webmaster or a graphic designer, use the InDesign file to insert your logo. Save your updated web banner as a new PNG file and post it on your website and social media accounts until February 6.
  • PNG – For State Component Societies or ASA members who do not have a design software license, use the web banner in the PNG format. This can be posted directly to your website and social media accounts.

• State Proclamation Submission Guide & Template
  A proclamation commends individuals or announces upcoming events or celebrations through a formal public announcement or declaration made by government officials. Physician Anesthesiologists Week is the perfect opportunity to ask for a proclamation to honor and recognize the critical role physician anesthesiologists play in keeping patients safe in your state or community.
  
  
  • State Proclamation Submission Guide (doc)
  • State Proclamation Template (doc)
    
    
• Made for This Moment Website
  The website educates patients about the specialty by highlighting the work physician anesthesiologists do every day to ensure they receive high quality care across all subspecialties within anesthesiology. There are a variety of resources that you can share with patients or policymakers – whether you are managing pain, preparing women for labor, helping children prepare for surgery, leading the anesthesia care team during heart surgery or brain surgery, or working in critical and ambulatory care on a wide range of procedures.