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The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists has launched a new grassroots site “Veterans Access to Quality Healthcare Alliance” to promote the VHA Nursing Handbook which would expand the use of APRNs within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including nurse anesthetists.
On the site, users are encouraged to share their stories, tell their colleagues about the issue, and contact their federal lawmakers. This health care alliance includes the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists, American Association of Nurse Practitioners and American Nurses Association.
ASA has been operating a similar public-facing website, “Safe VA Care” to encourage Veterans, their families, and other supporters to be engaged and informed about concerns with the anesthesia provisions in the VHA Nursing Handbook. Additionally, ASA leadership and staff have continued to engage prominent Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) on the topic and the importance of maintaining physician-led anesthesia care. On July 1, the Association of the U.S. Navy (AUSN) sent a follow-up letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald opposing any changes to anesthesia care in the VHA Nursing Handbook, and issued this press release.
Physician anesthesiologists are encouraged to visit ASA’s grassroots site to find updates, share stories, register for the Grassroots Network, and contact lawmakers on the issue. While we continue to prepare for the publication of the Handbook, ASA members are encouraged to set up a meeting with their federal lawmakers during the August Congressional recess; several dozen ASA members have already requested a meeting with their Members of Congress.
Please monitor the ASA grassroots site for further efforts to build support and create advocacy on the importance of preserving physician-led care anesthesia care teams in VA and contact Pat Daly, ASA’s Senior Grassroots Program Administrator, with any questions at (202) 289-2222.
