1. Remember to vote. The first principle of anesthesiology advocacy is to elect representatives who understand anesthesiology issues. The WVSSA has endorsed :

For the US Senate:                             Shelly Moore Capito

For US House of Representatives:     David McKinley (District1)

Alex Mooney (District 2)

Evan Jenkins (District 3)

For WV House of Delegates:

Amanda Pasdon

Bill Flanigan

Eric Nelson

Ron Stallings

For WV Senate:                                        Brad White

WVSSA also supports candidates endorsed by the WV State Medical Political Action

Committee. Find the list of WESPAC endorsements at,

http://wvsma.com/Portals/0/2014%20WESPAC%20Endorsements%20WEBSITE.pdf

 

2. ASAPAC. Thanks to the 61 WVSSA members who contributed to the 2014 PAC. They constitute 40 percent of our membership, the sixth highest contribution rate among all states. WVSSA officers presented PAC checks to our endorsed federal candidates on behalf of all West Virginia anesthesiologists. The candidates greatly appreciated the support, and expressed their interest in anesthesiology patient safety.

Picture of WV anesthesiologists with Congressman McKinley at a supper in Morgantown.
First row, L-R: Mary and David McKinley, R. Johnstone.
Second row, L-R: P. Ranganathan, B. Grose, M. Vallejo, C. Sizemore

 

3. Advocate for the Specialty during the inaugural Physician Anesthesiologists Week Jan. 11-17, 2015. The inaugural Physician Anesthesiologists Week 2015 is a good opportunity to alert policymakers, the media and the public that when seconds count, physician anesthesiologists save lives.

 

 

There has never been a more important time to advocate for our specialty and our patients.  WV anesthesiologists can join other ASA activities during this action-packed week and showcase the role all physician anesthesiologists play in providing the safe, high-quality care all patients deserve.

During the week, ASA is asking all physician anesthesiologists to illustrate how every member protects patient safety. Anesthesiologists can schedule meetings with their legislators, talk to local press, engage in social media and connect with colleagues and the community.

Local planning for these activities should start in December! ASA has developed materials and resources to help, beginning with a Physician Anesthesiologists Week member engagement webinar in December that will provide specific instructions on how to make the event a success. The webinar will highlight and review the materials contained in the comprehensive support tool kit developed for the week’s activities.  Watch ASAP to learn more and get involved in this inaugural event.

 

4. ASA Annual Meeting

Many West Virginia anesthesiologists attended the recent annual national meeting in New Orleans. Overall attendance exceeded 13,000.

One theme of the meeting was the disruptive innovation occurring in healthcare today, and the anesthesiology response of the Perioperative Surgical Home, a patient-centered, anesthesiologist-led perioperative coordination of care model. .

Jason Hwang, MD, author of The Innovator’s Prescription: A Disruptive Solution for Health Care, speaking at the ASA opening ceremony

Drs. Johnstone, Skaff and Grose represented WV anesthesiologists at the House of Delegates.

L-R. Drs. R. Johnstone, A. Skaff and B. Grose at the ASA House of Delegates.

Results of the House of Delegates will appear in an upcoming ASA Newsletter.

Briefly:  ASA dues will remain the same next year, and ASA will participate again with the WVSSA in collecting them. Total budget for the ASA is $45million, which supports many educational and advocacy programs. John Abenstein, MD (Mayo Clinic) became President of the ASA, and Jeff Plagenhoef, MD (Alabama – private practice) was elected First Vice President.

 

The joint WVSSA/WVU reception on Saturday evening at the Annual Meeting was very successful, with many WV anesthesiologists and friends attending. Everyone was in a good mood after a WVU football team victory earlier in the day.

Reception photo. (L-R) Jim Cain, MD (former WVSSA president), David Smith, MD (former WVU  faculty member), R. Johnstone

5. WVSSA member, Paul Kempen, MD, PhD is concerned about possible over-reach and costs of the Maintenance of Certification program of the American Board of Anesthesiology. He would like to hear from other members with similar concerns, to share information with them. Members can e-mail him at kmpnpm@yahoo.com.

 

WVSSA Officers

President                   Michael Panger, MD   (panger.michael@gmail.com)

President-elect        Seth Crislip, MD   (sethcrislip@gmail.com)

Sect-Treas                Robert Johnstone, MD   (johnstoner@wvuhealthcare.com)

Asst Sect-Treas       Brian Grose, MD

ASA Delegates        Alex Skaff, MD                  Brian Grose, MD

ASA Alt Delgs         Michael Panger, MD       Matt Ellison, MD

ASA Res Delg           Jeremiah Jeffers, MD

ASA Director            Robert Johnstone, MD

ASA Alt Dir               Alex Skaff, MD   (ASkaff1Ace@aol.com)

Legislative Rep        Alex Skaff, MD

 

Robert Johnstone, MD, Newsletter Editor