NAVAPD’s goal is to maintain and strengthen the relationship between Physicians and Dentists and our patients. Naturally, we are concerned when we see any attempts to destroy that relationship or to change the way care is delivered to veterans by allowing non physician to practice beyond their scope. Such a push is underway in VA, lead by nursing.

There is currently an attempt to remove Physician led anesthesia care teams and replace them with CRNA’s.  This is completely unacceptable in the eyes of NAVAPD and is potentially harmful to our patients.

There are only 4 states, which represents less than 4% of the United States population that allow independent anesthesia practice. The remaining 46 states, representing 96% of the total United States population REQUIRE physician led anesthesia care. NAVAPD is unclear as to the reason why VA is pushing this initiative especially given the fact that there is NO shortage of anesthesiologists in VA and there is NO access to care issue.

VA patients who undergo anesthesia are often sicker than the average person, have more comorbid conditions and now, with the influx of patients into VA with toxic exposures, pulmonary disease exacerbated by COVID-19, these patients are more medically complex, frailer, and there is the potential for increased harm and negative outcomes by having anesthesia run by CRNA’s and not physician anesthesiologists.

Because of the potential harmful and negative outcomes, NAVAPD wrote a letter to Secretary McDonough and Dr. Elnahal asking them to uphold physician led anesthesia care.

You can read the letter here.