Legislative Resolutions Recognize CRNAs in Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Legislative Resolutions Recognize CRNAs in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG (Feb. 4, 2020) --- Because of the vital role certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) play in protecting patient safety and controlling rising health-care costs, the state General Assembly adopted two separate resolutions to formally recognize the high-quality, affordable care these advanced practice nurses provide in Pennsylvania.

The resolutions --- S.R. 288 by Sen. John R. Gordner (R-Columbia) and H.R. 684 by Rep. Stephen Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) --- were adopted unanimously by both the House and Senate this week as the legislature reconvened session. The votes also served as the capstone for the 21st annual National CRNA Week, when patients, hospital administrators, health-care professionals, policy-makers, and others learn more about the work CRNAs perform.

“Senator Gordner and Representative Barrar have been longtime champions for CRNAs in Pennsylvania, and we appreciate their continued support,” said Angelarosa G. DiDonato, DNP, CRNA, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA). “More and more people are starting to understand and appreciate the role CRNAs play as an advocate for our patients and affordable, quality health care in Pennsylvania.”

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.

The nation’s 54,000 CRNAs and student registered nurse anesthetists safely and cost-effectively provide more than 49 million anesthetics each year. PANA itself represents more than 3,700 CRNAs and students across the state --- one of the largest contingencies in the country.

CRNAs are the main providers of anesthesia care in rural communities and medically underserved areas, delivering essential health care and preventing gaps in services. CRNAs also are battle-tested, serving on the front lines since World War I as the main providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel in austere combat theaters.

CRNAs not only provide routine anesthesia care, but also quickly respond to patient changes and emergencies during surgical and medical procedures, ensuring patient health and safety.

In fact, with advanced degrees and a high level of education and clinical experience, CRNAs are able to deliver the same safe, high-quality anesthesia care as other anesthesia professionals but at a lower cost, helping to control the nation’s rising health-care costs.

Because of their training and experience, numerous medical studies show there is no statistical difference in patient outcomes when a nurse anesthetist provides treatment. In fact, these studies by nationally recognized health-care policy and research organizations prove that CRNAs provide high-quality care, even for rare and difficult procedures.

Pennsylvania is recognized as a leader in anesthesia education and training, with 13 programs spread throughout Allegheny, Columbia, Erie, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Westmoreland and York counties.

Despite these advancements, Pennsylvania remains one of only two states (New York is the other) that fails to recognize CRNA designation in some form.

There is no formal definition for “certified registered nurse anesthetist” under the state’s Professional Nursing Law, meaning they are recognized only as registered nurses (RNs), not CRNAs. Professional designation legislation (S.B. 325), also sponsored by Sen. Gordner, passed the Senate last session but has not yet been taken up by the House.

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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Letter: Villanova University Urges Support for CRNA Designation, S.B. 325

SUPPORTING DESIGNATION LEGISLATION IN PENNSYLVANIA

Re: CRNA Professional Designation Legislation: S.B. 325 (Gordner)

October 1, 2019

Dear Senator/Representative:

Pennsylvania has more nurse anesthesia graduate programs than any other state in the U.S., attracting students from across the country to study in Pennsylvania to become certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). Many choose the highly competitive Villanova University Nurse Anesthesia Program, which is administered in partnership with the Crozer Chester Medical Center.

Pennsylvania remains one of just two states that fail to formally recognize CRNAs in statute or provide licensure as a CRNA. There is no definition for “Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist” under the state’s Professional Nursing Law, and there is no title designation for CRNAs and they are recognized only as registered nurses, not as CRNAs. This ignores the lengthy advanced education and training, required to become a CRNA.

Fortunately, in the final days of legislative session before the General Assembly adjourned for summer 2019, the state Senate approved a measure (S.B. 325) introduced by Sen. John Gordner that would formally recognize CRNAs under PA state law. This is the second consecutive legislative session that the measure passed the Senate. We are urging the House to do the same, immediately.

Nurse anesthetist programs like Villanova’s have seen firsthand the challenges our students and graduates face without title recognition in Pennsylvania. Many graduates opt to relocate to other states where CRNAs can practice to their full scope of their education and training. Without formal designation as a CRNA, our graduates who relocate to other states can wait as long as six months to become credentialed. In the absence of title recognition or CRNA license reciprocity, other state boards must verify that the graduates have met their state requirements to be licensed appropriately, which delays our graduates’ ability to work. Retention of these advanced professionals in Pennsylvania should be a priority for our commonwealth because of the outstanding health services that they provide thus improving the health and welfare of PA residents.

Nurse anesthetists must graduate with a minimum of a master’s degree from a nurse anesthesia accredited program, complete greater than 2,000 hours of clinical experience in anesthesia practice and pass a national certification exam in order to practice. The average nurse anesthetist completes 9,000 clinical hours of clinical training, including the clinical ICU experience as an RN required to enter CRNA training, the clinical experience obtained in an undergraduate nursing curriculum, and the clinical anesthesia training in a nurse anesthesia program. CRNAs are required to be nationally certified and must be recertified every four years, meeting strict continuing education standards.

Lack of title recognition in PA presents significant barriers for CRNAs in Pennsylvania who are active military personnel or who volunteer in emergency response teams. Pennsylvania CRNAs who are active military have to secure CRNA licensure in another state to serve as a CRNA in an active duty role of the armed forces. This is unacceptable because it adds additional fees and continuing education requirements to maintain licensure in another state to be eligible serve in our military. Nurse anesthetists have been the primary providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel on the front lines since World War I, and remain the primary anesthesia providers in austere combat theaters. Yet, Pennsylvania’s battle-tested CRNAs are at a distinct disadvantage without CRNA licensure in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania CRNAs cannot assist as part of emergency response teams in other states because they lack CRNA title designation in Pennsylvania, which diminishes the role our commonwealth can play in aiding states affected by hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters.

The CRNA graduates from Villanova University / CCMC Nurse Anesthesia Program are highly-qualified clinicians who are recruited across the country. CRNAs have been providing superior anesthesia care for more than 150 years and empirical evidence demonstrates there is no difference in the quality of anesthesia care when provided by CRNAs or physicians, independently, or together in a team model.

The CRNAs in Pennsylvania need title recognition and we urge you to both support S.B. 325 and urge immediate action by the House of Representatives.

Sincerely,

Donna S. Havens, PhD, RN, FAAN

Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor

Villanova University

M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing

During CRNA Week in Pa., Legislative Resolutions Recognize Those Who Are There When Seconds Count

Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) used to be the best kept secret in health care. But all of that is changing. Two separate resolutions adopted unanimously by the state House and Senate on Jan. 16 recognize CRNAs for the quality, affordable care we provide and offer a new glimpse of the men and women behind the surgical masks.

The resolutions were sponsored by state Sen. John R. Gordner (R-Columbia) and Rep. Stephen Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) --- two longtime champions of CRNAs in Pennsylvania. Their resolutions (S.R. 6 and H.R. 30, respectively) recognize Jan. 20-26 as “Nurse Anesthetists Week” in Pennsylvania, coinciding with National CRNA Week.

This is an incredible tribute to every CRNA who plays a role in protecting patients’ health and controlling rising health-care costs. The fact is that when seconds count, it’s you --- the certified registered nurse anesthetist --- who’s there by the patient’s side for every heartbeat, every breath, every step of the way.

It used to be that patients weren’t aware of us, or that they didn’t remember it was a CRNA who cared for them throughout their procedure. Not anymore. More and more people understand that CRNAs are hands-on providers of anesthesia care for millions of patients every year. We are usually the last person they see before being anesthetized for their procedure, and the first person they see when they awake.

That’s a testament to our commitment to care for the patient throughout the entire surgical procedure.

The fact is that health care would be much different without CRNAs. We operate 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.

That’s why so many more patients are getting to know us.

And our role is so much more expansive. CRNAs are the main providers of anesthesia care in rural communities. CRNAs also are battle-tested, serving on the front lines since World War I as the main providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel in austere combat theaters.

That’s why so many more patients and providers appreciate us.

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists, thank you, CRNAs, for all you do. It may be designated “CRNA Week in Pennsylvania,” but we know your passion and dedication drive you --- day in, day out, all year long.

To read our news release about “CRNA Week in Pennsylvania,” click HERE.