Special Facebook Live series to be offered Jan. 23-25

Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (MTSA) is joining healthcare providers nationwide in recognizing the unique skills of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) during the 19th annual National CRNA Week Jan. 21-27.

More information is available at www.mtsa.edu/CRNAweek.

“Surgery and anesthesia can be intimidating, but nurse anesthetists are trained to stay with the patient throughout the procedure, administering their anesthetics and watching over their vital signs,” said MTSA President Chris Hulin. “Our goal during CRNA Week is to shine a spotlight on the many professionals who play this crucial role in our healthcare system.”

On Monday, Jan. 22, at 1 p.m., MTSA will open its doors to students, alumni and guests for a special celebration of CRNA Week with tasty treats and door prizes. The event will take place in the lecture hall in Building A, located at 315 Hospital Drive in Madison. The School will also post information and special messages, along with Facebook Live educational presentations throughout the week at www.facebook.com/MTSAnesthesia.

Facebook Live schedule:

Tuesday, Jan. 23 @ 6 p.m.
Anesthesia for Opioid-dependent Patients
Presented by: Tatyana Aultman, PhD, CRNA, Assistant Program Administrator

Wednesday, Jan. 24 @ 6 p.m.
A Case Study — Paravertebral Nerve Blocks
Presented by: Bill Johnson, DNAP, CRNA, Director, Acute Surgical Pain Management Fellowship

Thursday, Jan. 25 @ 6 p.m.
Incorporating Echocardiography into Your Anesthesia Practice
Presented by: John Shields, DNP, CRNA, Adjunct Faculty

According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), more than 50,000 CRNAs and student registered nurse anesthetists provide anesthetics to patients in the United States each year, delivering the same safe, high-quality anesthesia care as other anesthesia professionals but at a lower cost, helping to control the nation’s rising healthcare costs.

Due to its significant alumni base in the region, MTSA estimates more than 75% of Middle Tennesseans having surgery entrust their lives to its graduates on a daily basis.

“Every day, CRNAs deliver essential healthcare in thousands of communities and are able to prevent gaps in access to anesthesia services, especially in rural, inner-city and other medically underserved areas of the country,” Hulin added.

About CRNA Week

National CRNA Week is the AANA’s annual celebration of anesthesia patient safety, helping patients, hospital administrators, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and others become more familiar with the CRNA credential and the exceptional advanced practice registered nurses who have earned it.

The emphasis during CRNA Week is on safe, effective anesthesia care, including five ways in which CRNAs make a difference every day:

1. Safety First: CRNAs are highly trained anesthesia professionals who safely administer approximately 43 million anesthetics to patients each year in the United States, according to the AANA 2016 Practice Profile Survey.
2. Rural America: CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America, enabling healthcare facilities in these medically underserved areas to offer obstetrical, surgical, pain management and trauma stabilization services. In some states, CRNAs are the sole providers in nearly 100 percent of the rural hospitals.
3. Military Presence: Nurse anesthetists have been the main providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel on the front lines since WWI. Nurses first provided anesthesia to wounded soldiers during the Civil War.
4. Practice Settings: CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered: traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; critical access hospitals; ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons and pain management specialists; and more.
5. Cost-Efficiency: Managed care plans recognize CRNAs for providing high-quality anesthesia care with reduced expense to patients and insurance companies. The cost-efficiency of CRNAs helps control escalating healthcare costs.

About Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia

Founded in 1950, Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (MTSA) provides graduate-level education and training of nurse anesthetists in a Christian environment born of its Seventh-day Adventist heritage. MTSA is the only independent, fully accredited anesthesia institution of its kind in the nation, instilling excellence through innovative and diverse clinical experience. More than 75% of Middle Tennesseans having surgery entrust their lives to its graduates on a daily basis. A leader in academic, clinical and professional distinction, MTSA is responsive to the needs of its constituents, providing affordable graduate education for students from diverse backgrounds. For more information, visit www.mtsa.edu or call (888) 353-MTSA.

More information about the role and value of CRNAs is available from the AANA at www.aana.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jeff Krinks, Prufrock Communications
jeff@prufrockcommunications.com
(615) 478-0267