Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Contact: Sarah Bascom
(850) 294-6636
or Christian Ulvert
(850) 559-2778
Florida’s Nurse Anesthetists Launch Education Campaign
Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists should be part of the overall solution to Florida’s health care challenges
Altamonte Springs, Fla. – The Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists (FANA) today launched an education campaign as part of National Nurse Anesthetist Week to celebrate and recognize the important contributions made by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to Florida’s health care system.
“Medicaid reform and containing the ever increasing cost of health care will be a main topic during the upcoming legislative session and we believe that FANA and CRNAs should be a part of that conversation and part of the overall solution,” said Michael Steighner, ARNP, CRNA and president of FANA. “We are launching an education and awareness effort, in concert with National Nurse Anesthetist Week to drive discussion among legislators and key stakeholders on how CRNAs can bring positive change to Florida’s health care system. CRNAs deliver safe, accessible and high quality care to Florida’s patients and we look forward to discussing how we can help in the coming months of the legislative session.”
As the main hands-on providers of anesthesia care in civilian and military settings, CRNAs administer comprehensive anesthesia care to patients before, during and after surgical and obstetrical procedures and are the primary anesthesia professionals in rural and medically underserved areas. CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is administered, including traditional hospital surgical and obstetrical suites, interventional pain management, critical access hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.
“CRNAs can help bring needed reforms and cost-savings to our health care system and FANA is prepared to offer safe, sensible and cost effective solutions, we just need a seat at the table,” added President Steighner.
National Nurse Anesthetist Week was established by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) was created to educate the public about anesthesia safety and the benefits of receiving anesthesia care from a nurse anesthetist.
Founded in 1936, the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists (FANA) represents 3,500 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) licensed in Florida. FANA advocates for its patients and members in legislative and governmental affairs and serves as a resource for CRNAs, the nursing and medical professions, hospitals, health care facilities and others interested in anesthesia care. For more information on FANA, please visit www.fana.org.
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