Greetings VANA Members

As your President-elect, I think it only necessary that I introduce myself to everyone.  I had the opportunity to come to Springfield Hospital in Springfield, Vermont as a locum tenens on three occasions for a total of ten weeks in 2006.  During that time I wondered why I had not moved to Vermont years ago.

I have the opportunity to work with a CEO at Springfield Hospital, Tom Crawford, who has the highest regards for CRNAs.  At the end of my locum assignment in July 2006, I made the decision to re-locate from central Texas.  I became a full time employee at Springfield Hospital in October 2006.

I became involved in the VANA shortly after relocating from Texas.  I have always been concerned about practice issues that affect CRNAs and was involved in the Washington and Texas associations in past years.  It only made sense to become involved with the VANA.

In 2007, the VANA President had to step down from office for health reasons.  President-elect, Carroll Ruhlman became President and appointed me President-elect.  In March 2008, I was elected to serve, a two year term as President-elect, at the Spring NEANA meeting.

I am honored to serve the VANA members at various state and federal levels.  Recently I was appointed to the APRN Advisory Committee for the Vermont Board of Nursing.  I was also selected to serve on the AANA Government Relations Committee and the AANA Anesthesia Payment and Policy Advisory Panel.

Currently, the Vermont Board of Nursing is considering a change to the current APRN Practice Rules.  A draft of the proposed changes can be found here: http://vtprofessionals.org/opr1/nurses/.  The current and draft Rules state that CRNAs in Vermont must provide the name of a collaborating anesthesiologist or surgeon.  As a member of the Advisory Committee, I am working hard to remove the requirement to name particular individuals.  Each surgeon who works with a CRNA collaborates with that CRNA in the course of surgery.  Naming individuals is an unnecessary burden for both CRNAs and physicians.

One of my goals as I serve the members of the VANA is to meet each CRNA and get a sense of practice relationships of the members.  I think it important to understand the needs, if any, of all of the members in order to effectively represent the VANA in state and national forums.  With that in mind, I encourage all of the members to contact me personally at mgreencrna@alumni.utexas.net with comments or questions relating to your practice.

If any of you participate in the online CRNA forum entitled Old Gas Passers (OGP), you will notice a common theme; that of the importance of furthering the profession of nurse anesthetists.  Currently, our practice, both locally and nationally, is under constant attack by various outside sources.  We are battling our right to provide chronic pain management, battling the right to practice independently from physician supervision and we are battling Medicare reimbursement cuts, all of which have huge impact on CRNA practice throughout the United States.  I think it essential for all of you in the various practice settings to communicate your expectations of your VANA government and relate any issues that affect your practices.

Additionally, active participation in VANA and AANA activities is sorely needed.  Students need mentors, committees members are needed for Public Relations, Government Relations, and ad hoc committee membership.  The strength of any organization is in numbers. 

I ask all of you to consider helping out by serving in some capacity as we, the board members, take on the state and federal Legislators to strengthen CRNA practice, not only in Vermont, but nationally as well.  If you would like to serve but cannot travel to a committee meeting, then consider meeting by teleconference.  In addition, funds are available for attending the various Vermont, NEANA, and national meetings.  What better way to serve and receive your CEU credits at the same time while receiving funding.

This past week was the AANA Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  I had a great time and forged many relationships with other members and renewed old friendships.  I attended several lectures and meetings that discussed the future or CRNA practice.  Our future is sound but not without challenges.  Our new AANA president, Jackie Rowles, took office from outgoing President Wanda Wilson.  This next year will be full of new and ongoing issues that impact CRNA practice.  In addition, the upcoming U.S. presidential election and the concern for health care cost containment will be at the forefront of our practice.

I have long been active in other states promoting the profession of CRNAs.  I would like for Vermont to be my final destination and I am happy to represent all of you.  However, the governing body of the VANA cannot do it alone; we need member support.

Thanks,

Mark Green, CRNA, MSN
President-elect
Vermont Association of Nurse Anesthetists

VANA sponsored two students to AANA meeting in Minneapolis.
On left Julie Kelbert to right is Megan Cassotto, both students attend UNE.

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