West Virginia State Society of Anesthesiologists
Newsletter
February 7, 2019

1. The West Virginia Legislature is in session and we are tracking a few bills that could affect anesthesiologists. These include bills involving licensure, opioids, vaccinations, peer review, insurance, scope of professional practice and other items. The ASA office of governmental affairs has helped with the tracking. Alex Skaff, MD has represented the WVSSA at hearings, and gotten language in a bill changed to protect safe anesthesia care for patients. Bring any concerns with bills to the attention of Drs. Seth Crislip or Alex Skaff.

2. Drs. Alex Skaff and Bob Johnstone will attend the interim meeting of the ASA Board of Directors in Chicago in three weeks. They will report back to WVSSA members shortly after the meeting all items of interest. Please let them know any items you would like to see them address at the meeting.

3. The ASA will hold its annual Legislative Conference in Washington DC on May 13-15. We would like anesthesiologists from each of the three congressional districts in West Virginia to attend. Attendees spend the first two days learning about current legislative issues and how to advocate for better laws and regulations. The third day they meet with our senators and representatives. The WVSSA will pay the registration fee for each attendee, as well as $250 towards a hotel room and for a group dinner. Find more information at, https://www.asahq.org/meetings/legislative-conference. Please let the WVSSA Secretary know if you would like to attend.

4. The annual WVSSA educational and business meetings will be at the Greenbrier on August 24 and 25. The meeting is free for all WVSSA members. Below is the planned educational meeting program.

Annual Educational Meeting/ the Greenbrier
August 24, 2019

7:45-8:00am Registration and announcements R. Johnstone, MD, FASA
8:00-8:45 Neuromuscular blockers S. Thilen, MD, MS
8:45-9:15 Eldon Tucker, MD – First full-time anesthesiologist in West Virginia R. Johnstone, MD, FASA
9:15-10:00 ASA Update R. Harter, MD, FASA

10-10:15 Break

10:15- Workshop (15 minute presentations, followed by hands-on
12:30pm experience)
Point-of-care ultrasound exam H. Wang, MD, PhD, FASA
Echocardiography H. Hayanga, MD, MPH
Difficult airway management M. Ellison, MD, FASA

Continuing Educational Credit 4.25 hours (applied for)

5. WVSSA officers

President Matt Ellison, MD (ellisonma@wvumedicine.org
President-elect Matt Delph, MD (mattdelph@gmail.com)
Immed Past-Pres Seth Crislip, MD
Sect-Treas Bob Johnstone, MD (johnstoner@wvumedicine.org)
Asst Sect-Treas Brian Grose, MD
ASA Delegates Jim Cain, MD; Brian Grose, MD
ASA Alt Delgs Matt Ellison, MD; Chad Sizemore, MD
ASA Res Delg Grant Neely, MD
ASA Director Bob Johnstone, MD
ASA Alt Dir Alex Skaff, MD (askaff1ace@aol.com)
Legislative Dirs Alex Skaff, MD; Seth Crislip, MD

Newsletter editor Bob Johnstone