Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists

VA PAY SCALES AFFECTING CRNA's

Public Law 111-163

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ASSOCIATION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NURSE ANESTHETISTS (AVANA)

VA CRNA's Meet with the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs April, 2012

Diane Boettger CRNA, Pittsburgh VA, Dave Polner CRNA, Phoenix VA, Elda Silla CRNA, Ann Arbor VA, Garrett Peterson CRNA, Minneapolis VA

AANA Mid-Year Assembly
Several members of the AVANA Board, as well as 700 CRNA and SRNAs, attended the Mid Year Assembly in Washington, DC from April 15th-18th, 2012.

The broad scope of the assembly addressed issues in pain management, anesthesia educational funding, access to affordable and safe anesthesia care and the inclusion of provider neutral language in legislation. While many of the issues do not directly impact our practice within the VA (Medicare/Medicaid, Third party reimbursement ), we still work in the same environment, with VA CRNA's as sole providers in rural settings. The economics of anesthesia care and delivery affect us all.
I want to comment on the effect and value that membership in AVANA offers. During our very successful visit with the legislative staff of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, two AVANA members who are not on the board accompanied the board members. They were amazed that we had established such a strong relationship with the staff, and that our concerns were actually listened to. These members spoke with the staff about their own stations and the issues that they faced. The board continuously monitors and advises these committees on matters that impact the anesthesia care of our veterans. Several of the recent changes in pay, practice and status of CRNAs at individual stations is a direct result of the hard dedicated work of our board. Many of the officers, who have preceded us, have expended countless hours and effort on the associations’ issues. Please consider urging every member of your clinical staff to join us in making AVANA stronger and better for their benefit.

Thank you one and all for your continued support of AVANA's Board of Directors.

Dave Polner CRNA
AVANA President

In 1973, twenty-six (26) VA CRNA's created AVANA. From the beginning, education has been the first priority of AVANA. In 1974, the first educational workshop was held in Des Moines, Iowa. Annual educational symposiums have continued in various locations nationwide.

AVANA Objectives

To promote quality anesthesia services in the VA Medical Centers.
Promote continuing education.
Greater understanding and participation in mutual interests with the medical and nursing professions.
Work with all VA Medical Centers in a concerted effort to improve services.
Recommend practices that will help recruit and retain the most capable CRNAs.
Promote utilization of CRNA skills in diagnostic procedures, monitoring, pain management as well as surgical anesthesia.

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