Vital Times 2014 - (Page 22)
Dr. CSA Goes to
Washington
By Mark Singleton, MD
A
lthough there's
certainly not the same
simple folksy innocence
as we might remember
from the 1939 Frank Capra
film with Jimmy Stewart
as pure-of-heart novice
Senator, Mr. Jefferson
Smith, walking into any
US congressional office on Capitol Hill takes one
right back to the representative's or senator's home
district and state. There are always familiar and
iconic posters, photos, and other decorations that tell
any visitor exactly what geography this particular
office cares about. Walking through the halls of the
House office buildings also gives a strong sense of
our nation's history, mixed with the brightness and
energy of the legions of young men and women who
staff those offices and congressional committees.
Those of us fortunate enough to attend the annual ASA
Legislative Conference, held in Washington DC, get
the opportunity to experience this special place, learn
about how our government affects our medical practice,
and communicate our perspective about issues related
to the practice and business of anesthesiology to our
elected representatives with the goal of improving our
ability to provide the best possible care to our patients.
Traditionally, the CSA president invites a number of
politically active members to be part of our official
22 | CSA Vital Times
delegation to the ASA Legislative Conference, although
registration is open to any ASA member wishing to
come on his or her own. The CSA also encourages our
California anesthesiology residency programs to fund
one of their residents to benefit from this valuable
experience. This year's conference attendance was over
500 anesthesiologists, including sixteen CSA members
and three resident members.
The conference is an outstanding
opportunity to hear and learn from
experts in governmental affairs and
engage in face-to-face meetings with
our representatives in Congress.
The Monday afternoon opening session featured
speakers representing a number of ASA's state
component societies. They related their experiences
with ongoing maneuvers by nurse anesthetists to
achieve independent, unsupervised practice, and
also spoke about successful efforts in a number of
states to establish a licensing basis for the practice of
anesthesiologist assistants. We heard entertaining and
thoughtful stories by anesthesiologists who are both
former and current state legislators, about the rewards
and frustrations of seeking and holding elected office.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vital Times 2014
AND NOW, A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
ON YOUR BEHALF: CSA Fights and Wins in 2014
ADAPT AND PROSPER: A Guide to Survival
POLITICS AND MEDICATION SAFETY: The CSA 2014 Annual Anesthesia Meeting
DR. CSA GOES TO WASHINGTON
CALIFORNIA ANESTHESIA RESIDENCY IN 2014
A NEW YEAR AND NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE CSA
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC – CSA FINANCES IN OUR 2014-15 FISCAL YEAR
THE ASA ANNUAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING: Building for the Future
ANESTHESIOLOGY™ 2014
CONSOLIDATION IN THE HEALTHCARE MARKETPLACE: What’s in your Future?
IF I COULD SPEAK
PEERING OVER THE ETHER SCREEN: Germs and the Pseudoscience of Quality Improvement
THE ETHICAL CONSULTANT: Perioperative ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ Orders
THE VALUE OF CSA MEMBERSHIP
UPCOMING MEETINGS
MY WEEK ON HAWAII'S BIG ISLAND
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