ASA Response to AANA “Study”

ASA has learned that the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) has issued a press release regarding a paper titled “Advocacy, Research, and Anesthesia Practice Models: Key Studies of Safety and Cost-Effectiveness.”  The paper has been published in the nursing journal “Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice.” ASA has reviewed this new AANA-funded paper and finds it consistent with AANA’s ongoing efforts to dismantle the anesthesia care team and to diminish the role of anesthesiologists in anesthesia care delivery.  The authors of the paper -- nurse anesthetists and AANA staff -- essentially repackage existing AANA-funded advocacy material.  No new studies are referenced.  ASA continues to encourage policy-makers to utilize independent studies that demonstrate that the involvement of anesthesiologists in anesthesia care assures safe, high quality outcomes.