Now more than ever, Arkansans recognize and appreciate access to health care where they live. During the past year, in the midst of the persistent covid-19 pandemic, traveling across the state for care is not only an inconvenience, but it also presents potential health consequences to you and your family.
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) like me and nearly 800 practicing Arkansas CRNAs are honored to serve at the forefront in our usual role, delivering anesthesia in operating rooms. The pandemic also means we are caring for critically ill patients in emergency rooms and intensive care units across our state.
"Keeping your hometown healthy" is more than a state slogan. For CRNAs, it's a call to action. In a predominantly rural state such as ours, access to surgical, obstetrical and emergency services is vital. We are there.
Anesthesia services are provided solely by CRNAs in Arkansas's Critical Access Hospitals offering surgical services, and in 90 percent of our rural hospitals. We comprise 68 percent of the state's anesthesia care providers. Arkansas is fortunate to have anesthesia excellence so readily available through the work of CRNAs as well as our state's physician anesthesiologists. Each group of anesthesia providers is highly qualified and shares the common goal of anesthesia safety as priority.
CRNAs are anesthesia professionals who, prior to admission into an anesthesia program, have obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, and have a minimum of one year intensive care experience, with an average of three years' experience. Nurse anesthesia programs are three-year master's or doctoral degrees centered on advanced airway management, vascular access, hemodynamics, pharmacology, and physiology related to the field of anesthesiology.
There are 41 U.S. states that do not require physician supervision of CRNAs in their nursing laws and rules. CRNAs are qualified to make decisions regarding all aspects of anesthesia care based on their education, licensure, and certification. Leading health policy journals have demonstrated CRNAs' safety record and found no "statistical difference in safety to any other anesthesia care model."
This journey into anesthesia uniquely qualifies us for the current crisis.
Throughout the covid-19 pandemic, the federal government and several governors across the country have made the important decision to remove cumbersome barriers to CRNA practice. Recognizing the critical-care skills and airway and ventilatory support we bring in combating this crisis has helped increase the capacity of our delivery system, meeting the growing health-care demand.
As our country recovers from this historic time, it is important to maintain this common-sense approach to improved access and reduced cost. Increased demand, limited resources, and the rural nature of our state dictate that a system capable of meeting the needs of all Arkansans be maintained.
CRNAs have answered the call to the front lines since the Civil War. Today, we are on the front lines of the global pandemic battlefield. Now is the time to make this change, ensuring access to quality care for all Arkansans.
Please help Arkansas join 41 other states in ensuring safe, affordable anesthesia care in your district by supporting House Bill 1198 in the Arkansas 93rd General Assembly. Learn more at arkansas.crnasafe.com.
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Debra Varela, DNP, CRNA, is president of the Arkansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists.