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Many people don’t know that certified registered nurse anesthetists are the primary anesthesia providers in austere combat theaters, and most commonly are the only anesthesia providers in the military’s forward surgical teams.
As much as we do in the field, there’s even more that we do at home. Today, more than 900 CRNAs provide every type of anesthesia care and chronic pain management for veterans within the Veterans Administration health care system.
The VA wants to do even more to improve health care for veterans, including reducing wait times for the care they need. A new rule would give CRNAs full practice authority within the VA system.
Halfway through the comment period for the proposed rule, this issue has generated nearly 50,000 letters to the VA, by far the highest number of comments for a VA rule since the agency instituted online comment submission in 2006.
Beyond a doubt, this is a topic of keen interest to veterans, their families and the American public. Learn more at VeteransAccessToCare.com.
Jay Thomas
Board member
Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Harveys Lake