Crna
Recognizing Crna’s In Today’s Health Care System
The rising cost of health care is becoming a problem for all people both young and old. However there is something that can be done to help cut down on these cost. Certified registered nurse anesthetists or crna’s administer more than 60 percent of all anesthetics in surgical and non-surgical procedures. However in many states this professional group must be supervised by either a physician or an anesthesiologist while administering anesthetics. By requiring this supervision it only adds to undermine the ability of crna’s in doing their job and to inflate the bill for an already cash strapped health care system.
In a recent news release from the Medical Group Management Association "From a
public health care policy perspective, there is no wisdom in restricting crna’s in
providing the full range of anesthesia care in the office setting. In fact, such restrictions
harm patients by increasing costs and reducing access to the excellent anesthesia care
by crna’s."("New Jersey" J:05) The education and work experience of the crna more than demonstrates the abilities of this group of professionals. Crna’s must hold a master degree in a program that is very tough to get into and also very tough and demanding to go through. They must also pass a national certification process and are required to attend a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education every two years. The drop out rate for this program is over 52 percent country wide. Crna’s also must work in a critical care
unit such as trauma or ICU for a minimum of one year while holding a bachelors degree even before they can apply for this program.
Many states are finally realizing that this group of high...
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