Click here for our summer newsletter to find current news and events.

As you may know, the CRNA association continues to push for independent practice. HB 191/SB 301, sponsored by Representative Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) and Senator Kris Jordan (R-Delaware) respectively, are essentially the same bill allowing CRNAs to practice and prescribe independently. SB 301 has additional education requirements that must be met for CRNAs to practice independently.

The ASA Board of Directors met last month in Chicago. Some issues addressed included in this post.

The ASA’s Annual Meeting was held in Boston, MA last month. Hopefully, you were able to attend at least some of the meeting with its plethora of educational and scientific sessions. For those who were not able to attend, and those who couldn’t attend all the sessions, ASA offers various “on demand” products for your convenience. Keynote speakers included Atul Gawande, MD at the opening session and Emery Brown, MD, PhD who gave the John W. Severinghaus Lecture.

The CRNAs are working hard to expand their scope of practice. HB 191 is pending in the House Health Committee and is sponsored by Representative Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville). The introduced version of the bill makes the following changes:

The ASA 2016 meeting has just concluded with the House of Delegates and various Caucuses discussing key issues. In the two contested elections, Pat Giam was elected to Vice Speaker of the House and Ken Elmassian was elected Assistant Secretary in the two contested elections.

At the 2016 OSA Annual Resident Component Meeting, fostering resident interest and participation was at the forefront of our discussions. Since the meeting, we have communicated with all of the program coordinators at all of the residency programs in the state to get updated resident contact information.

In Ohio, the races for the General Assembly went as expected with the Republicans adding a seat in both Chambers. The House of Representatives will have 66 of 99 seats filled by Republicans and the Ohio Senate will have 24 of 33 filled by Republicans. Both Derek Merrin and Theresa Gaverone, appointed to the House late this year were elected to their seats with solid margins.