Two-thirds of Pa. Voters Support Professional Designation for CRNAs

Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kurt Knaus; P: 717-724-2866; E: kurt@ceislermedia.com

Two-thirds of Pa. Voters Support Professional Designation for CRNAs

Pennsylvania is one of just two states that fails to recognize nurse anesthetists in some form

HARRISBURG (April 20, 2020) --- Two-thirds (67%) of Pennsylvania voters support professional designation for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), including those who identify as Republican (59%), Democrat (75%) and Independent (62%), according to results of a statewide public opinion poll conducted by G. Terry Madonna Opinion Research.

Pennsylvania is one of just two states that fails to recognize CRNAs in some form. Because there is no definition for “certified registered nurse anesthetist” under the state’s Professional Nursing Law, CRNAs are recognized only as registered nurses, not as CRNAs. That brings logistical and financial burdens, and it continues to inhibit our full response to this health-care pandemic.

In response to COVID-19, many CRNAs want to contribute more in the facilities where they work but can’t. Likewise, hospitals and other health-care institutions want to use CRNAs to their fullest capacity but can’t. Many of these facilities feel restricted by the way the state licenses CRNAs and will not allow nurse anesthetists to provide advanced, critical care services, even though it is within their education, training, clinical experience and scope of practice --- meaning this valuable health-care resource remains untapped during a time of crisis.

There are other challenges as well. Pennsylvania nurse anesthetists who serve in the military must secure designation in another state to provide anesthesia in the armed services. They cannot assist on rapid response teams in states affected by natural disasters because they lack formal credentials. And, after receiving training in Pennsylvania, many nurse anesthetists relocate to states with full credentialing, contributing to the state’s “brain drain.”

Bipartisan measures have been introduced in both chambers to recognize nurse anesthetists as “CRNAs” under Pennsylvania statute, with one bill (S.B. 325), sponsored by Sen. John R. Gordner (R-Columbia), receiving Senate approval last year. The legislation remains under consideration in the House Professional Licensure Committee.

“Broad support like this should give lawmakers the confidence they need to advance this measure and finally provide CRNAs with the professional designation they deserve,” said Angelarosa G. DiDonato, DNP, CRNA, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA), which represents more than 3,700 CRNAs and students in the state.

CRNAs are the hands-on providers of anesthesia care, operating safely in every setting where anesthesia is administered, including: hospital operating and delivery rooms; ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, and plastic surgeons; pain management centers and more.

Pennsylvania is recognized as a leader in anesthesia education and training, with 13 university-led programs. Yet, without an official CRNA designation in the state, many students leave the state. Some graduating students have to wait as long as six months to get credentialed in out-of-state facilities, as state boards must verify that the students meet the requirements necessary to be classified appropriately there.

According to the poll findings, respondents agree (47% agree to 28% disagree) that students who graduate from one of Pennsylvania’s education and training programs ultimately may leave the state because of issues with designation, going to a state that fully recognizes their profession. In the same respect, respondents agree (51% to 23%) that having professional designation would help to attract and retain these professionals.

According to the poll, respondents agree (45% to 40%) that there is no difference in patient outcomes when a CRNA provides treatment compared to an anesthesiologist. Numerous medical studies back them up. In fact, studies by nationally recognized health-care policy and research organizations prove that outcomes are nearly identical in these cases and that CRNAs provide high-quality care, even for rare and difficult procedures.

Not only are CRNAs critical to patient care, but they also help to reduce the cost of health care. Respondents also agree (46% to 40%) that CRNAs help to keep down health-care costs.

That is especially true in rural areas, where CRNAs are the main providers of anesthesia care, delivering essential health care and preventing gaps in services. CRNAs are far less costly for hospitals to employ, so rural hospitals, for example, are able to staff emergency services with in-house CRNAs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so that every Pennsylvania resident has access to these needed services.

The poll, conducted by ProBusinessConnection, interviewed 650 registered voters in the state and includes both landline and cellular households. The margin of error is +/-4.8 percent.

For more information about certified registered nurse anesthetists in Pennsylvania, visit www.PANAforQualityCare.com or follow along on social media via Twitter at @PANACRNA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PANACRNA.

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State asked to allow nurse anesthetists to do more to help in crisis

By Paul J. Gough – Reporter, Pittsburgh Business Times

Apr 7, 2020, 1:47pm EDT Updated Apr 7, 2020, 2:35pm EDT

Pennsylvania's certified registered nurse anesthetists are urging the Pennsylvania Department of Health to waive a supervision requirement to allow them to fully help patients to the level of their training.

Nurse anesthetists are advanced practice nurses that deliver medications including anesthesia during surgery, medical procedures like colonoscopies and dental procedures. They normally work under the supervision of an MD anesthesiologist but have a substantial course of training in their own right: Not just an RN degree but also generally two or three years of advanced practice training beyond it and thousands of clinical hours.

But even though they play a critical role, Pennsylvania's nurse anesthetists aren't given by law what is called a title designation: They can't practice except under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. That, said its trade association the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists, is a critical distinction and an area of opportunity in the commonwealth if health officials allow it.

Pennsylvania is the only state that doesn't allow nurse anesthetists to practice their full scope, which is critically important during the COVID-19 pandemic. New York, the only other state in the country that has the same strictures, last month relaxed them to allow nurse anesthetists to practice to the full level of their training.

That's what Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA) is advocating with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It's also what the Trump administration, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has done on the national level.

"We are highly educated and trained professionals," said Jess Poole, a Westmoreland County nurse anesthetist and government relations director of PANA. "Our skill sets should be utilized."

That's because in the COVID-19 emergency, some of the skill sets that nurse anesthetists have — the proper intubation and use of ventilators — are really needed. There's already a nationwide shortage of ventilators and more are going to be needed, as well as the skilled medical professionals who know how to use them.

Poole said that it's crucial for nurse anesthetists to be able to help out. Previous attempts to allow it, before a crisis, have not been successful in the Pennsylvania Legislature. But Poole said the Wolf administration has the power to allow them to do it on a temporary, emergency basis.

PANA has requested a waiver from the supervision requirement but it's not yet been granted.

Important Message to PANA Members

March 25, 2020

Dear PANA Members:

Earlier today, the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists sent a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf and state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, urging them to formally recognize certified registered nurse anesthetists and to act swiftly to give our professionals the ability to practice to the full extent of our education and training to help Pennsylvania respond to the COVID-19 health-care crisis.

You can read the entire letter here: https://bit.ly/3akUMb0.

As frontline health-care professionals, we play a crucial role in the state’s response to this pandemic. Unfortunately, the full contribution of CRNAs is being limited.

First, in Pennsylvania, education and training for CRNAs is extensive. Yet, there are limits placed on our practice, even though those limits are not based on any data or research, and CRNAs can safely practice beyond these limits. New York, West Virginia, Maine and Arizona already have acted to remove barriers on CRNAs to better utilize all available providers to respond to this health-care crisis without risking patient safety. Pennsylvania should do the same.

Second, Pennsylvania remains one of only two states (New York is the other) that fails to recognize CRNA professional designation in some form, meaning we are recognized only as registered nurses. In times of need, CRNAs are in demand to help with crisis response. But Pennsylvania-based CRNAs cannot be part of response teams in other states that are asking for help --- and so many are --- simply because we lack the formal credentials that nearly every other state recognizes. That needs to change.

Now, we need you to take action, too.

First, send a personal message to Gov. Wolf and urge him to act on the health-care proposals PANA included in its letter. Fill out the form here: https://www.governor.pa.gov/contact/#OnlineForm.

This is all you need to say (there is a 1,000-character limit):

Gov. Wolf: As a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) in Pennsylvania, I stand ready to help our commonwealth address the health-care crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, PANA, our statewide association, sent you a letter (which you can access here: https://bit.ly/3akUMb0), urging you to formally recognize CRNAs and allow us to practice to the full extent of our education and training to help Pennsylvania respond in this time of need. Other states already have acted to remove barriers on CRNAs to better utilize all available providers to respond to this health-care crisis without risking patient safety. Pennsylvania should do the same. As frontline health-care professionals, we play a crucial role in the state’s response to this pandemic. Please make these changes so we can help even more. Thank you.

Next, contact your local legislators. Ask them to please contact the governor and secretary and urge them to take fast action on the proposals made by PANA to address this health-care crisis. You can find your lawmakers here: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator.

This is all you need to say:

As your constituent, I wanted to be sure you knew that PANA, our statewide association, sent a letter (which you can access here: https://bit.ly/3akUMb0) to Gov. Tom Wolf and state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, urging them to formally recognize CRNAs and allow us to practice to the full extent of our education and training to help Pennsylvania respond to the COVID-19 health-care crisis. As a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), we play a crucial role in the state’s response to this pandemic, along with other frontline health-care professionals. Unfortunately, too many barriers are blocking our work. There are limits placed on our practice, even though those limits are not based on any data or research, and the state’s lack of credentialing limits emergency response. Please read our letter and urge the governor and his administration to act swiftly. Other states are acting. It is time for Pennsylvania to do the same. Thank you.

Like the rest of the country, we are watching with deep concern as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect a world already brought to a standstill. PANA continues to monitor the situation. But our culture is built on helping people. I hope we can count on you to do your part to advocate for our profession so we can get these changes made and fulfill our mission of keeping residents healthy and safe.