NMANA Letter to the Editor

July 26, 2022

Dear Editor,

Thank you, Dr. Michael Gajewski, I appreciate your service to New Mexico patients, but it is important to give the public accurate information regarding CRNA practice.

As a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), I have practiced in New Mexico for over a decade in all practice settings.   CRNAs are highly educated, advanced practice nurses with a Masters or Doctorate degree who help improve access to safe and affordable anesthesia care, providing more than 49 million anesthetics annually in the U.S. to all settings, including rural areas and U.S. military personnel. More than 80% of anesthetics performed in rural areas across the U.S. are provided by CRNAs.

New Mexico CRNAs have practiced without the supervision of physician anesthesiologist for over two decades and have a stellar safety record. Our critical care experience and airway management expertise allowed us to serve patients well through the COVID pandemic as we performed lifesaving measures without supervision by a physician anesthesiologist. I have great respect for my colleagues across the state who stepped in to help mitigate the COVID surge, making a difference in many lives.

Patients bear the burden when certain barriers to CRNA practice are employed—barriers like physician supervision of CRNAs. Supervision comes with a higher price tag to patients and to medical facilities and does not increase patient safety. Studies have proven that the most cost-effective anesthesia delivery model is a CRNA working as the sole anesthesia provider. The economics of requiring physician supervision don’t make sense—not when CRNAs provide the same outcomes as anesthesiologists and are more affordable for both patients and the facilities that employ them. Allowing CRNAs to practice to the top of their licensure has not only increased healthcare capacity, it has also provided flexibility to hospitals and freed up physicians to provide patient care rather than focus on supervisory requirements.

Thank you again for the care you have given to our residents of N.M.

Respectfully,

Angela Frietze MSN, CRNA

President, New Mexico Association of Nurse Anesthetists

Thank you for registering for the NMANA Fall Conference!

You will receive a Zoom link for the conference one week prior to the event.  

Thank you for your nomination fee payment!

Thank you for donating to the NMANA PAC!  Your support will make a big difference in ensuring that our voice and presence in the Roundhouse is strong and effective.

Thank you for supporting the Lorrie Bennett Memorial Scholarship, created in memory of former NMANA board member, New Mexico CRNA, and advocate, Lorrie Bennett. Your contribution will support future CRNAs in the state of New Mexico. Please check your email for a donation receipt.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Thank you so much for supporting future New Mexico CRNAs by contributing to the Lorrie Bennett Memorial Scholarship. Lorrie Bennet was an incredible CRNA, NMANA board member, and advocate for nurse anesthetists.

AANA COVID-19 Resources and Guidance for CRNAs (Link to Main AANA Page)

• AANA Joint Statement on Use of PPE During COVID-19 Pandemic
• AANA Statement Supporting Healthcare Workers Being Allowed to Use Self-Supplied PPE
• How the CARES Act Helps CRNAs

Balzano Government Relations Updates

• SBA Lenders List
• 04/15/2020 Economic Development Department Webinars
• 04/02/2020 Paycheck Protection Program Summary
• 03/30/2020 CARES Act Updates & Resources Memo
• 03/27/2020 CARES Act Memo
• 03/21/2020 COVID-19 Economic Resources Memo
• Balzano Government Relations Insights Page - Memos & Additional Resources

State of New Mexico - Information For Individuals Experiencing Financial Hardship

New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool - Resources for Those without Medical Insurance

• One Pager About NMMIP

SBA Disaster Assistance Loans

SBA COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Application

Small Business Owner Guide to CARES Act

Locum Tenens Need/Availability

In effort to connect our members with resources, NMANA will be keeping a list of members available for locum coverage in New Mexico, as well as a list of those in need of coverage for vacation/sick leave. Please email [email protected] with your contact information, availability, and need. We will do our best to share your information/need with other members throughout the state.

Click here for locum opportunities.

CRNA Practice Recognition Awards

The purpose of this annual event is to acknowledge and honor CRNAs in New Mexico who have demonstrated outstanding clinical skills, leadership, patient advocacy, and promotion of excellence in the nurse anesthesia profession.

Winners in each category will be acknowledged at the state conference on September 17th and then acknowledged again in their local papers and other publications to let the public know who their exceptional anesthesia providers are in their community.

We are enthusiastic and ready to let the “Land of Enchantment” know who we are!

Click Here to Nominate 

Award Categories

The following are the categories you may nominate CRNAs for:

CRNA Rural Practice Award

This award recognizes a CRNA who actively practices in rural NM, making a difference in a community’s safety inpatient care and promoting access to health care. Rural communities are defined by Eligibility of Rural Health Care Practitioner Tax Credit Program.

New Mexico Department of Health:  https://nmhealth.org/about/phd/hsb/oprh/rhcptc/

CRNA Exemplary Leadership Award

This award recognizes a CRNA who promotes the CRNA profession in areas such as management, political activity, or public relations in NM.

CRNA Military Service Recognition Award

This award recognizes a NM CRNA who is a current or former service member of any military branch for their service to our country.

Excellence in Obstetrical Anesthesia Care

This award recognizes a CRNA who stands out in excellence in providing women’s healthcare in NM.

Distinguished CRNA of the Year

This award recognizes a CRNA who provides excellence in care, has made a difference in anesthesia safety and practice either locally or statewide, or has been a political activist for patient care locally or statewide, and has gone “above and beyond” in care of NM residents.

Lifetime Achievement Award

This is a retired or post-humous award to recognize NM CRNAs who gave their time to serving NM residents in the past, paving the way for future CRNAs to practice. The CRNA must have practiced in NM for 15 years during their career. This award will accept up to three winning CRNAs each year.

Exceptional Patient Care Award

This award is a patient-nominated award for a CRNA providing exceptional care. There is no fee to nominate a CRNA for this award.

Nomination Fee

$75.00 paid to  NMANA Practice Recognition Awards - PAY FEE HERE

Deadline

July 26, 2022

Nomination Requirements

• A candidate must be resident of New Mexico and practicing primarily in New Mexico.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award does not require current residency in NM.
• Anyone can nominate a CRNA (patients, family members, colleagues, supervisors, organizations). The Exceptional Patient Care Award must be nominated by a patient or family member of the patient on behalf of the patient.
• Nominee and nominator are encouraged work together to complete the nomination form for accuracy.
• Nominees must not be subject to any notification, limitation/restriction to practice, under investigation, disciplinary process or undergoing performance management.
• Nominee must provide a professional reference.

Selection Process        

A selection committee will be appointed consisting of CRNAs and other designees as reviewers and scorers of the nominations. A scoring key will be used to assign points to each category. Points will be awarded for quality of care, community and professional development, leadership qualities, educational development, and CRNA advocacy. Be sure to include all of your nominee’s outstanding qualities in your letter. The committee will determine the winners based on category points. Nominators and nominees names will be blinded to ensure impartiality.  After the selection process has been completed, the names of the nominees will be revealed. The winners of the awards will not be announced until the time of the awards presentations.

Tell us about your nominee! Nominations will be submitted to the selection committee. 

Potential information to include in the online nomination form:

Describe how the nominee goes “above and beyond” in the CRNA category in which you are nominating him/her/them for. In addition to your own story, include the following if applicable:

1. Describe how the nominee demonstrates excellent standard of practice and professional performance in anesthesia (such as commitment to safe and high quality care by implementing a quality improvement project, or advocating politically for patient safety standards.)
2. Describe how the nominee has participated in community/professional organization advocacy.
3. Describe how the nominee demonstrates leadership qualities (which include acting as a role model and advocate) in the workplace, the profession, and community.
4. Describe how the nominee demonstrates an active role in the educational development of self, colleagues, and the community.
5. Describe how the nominee has contributed to the advancement of the CRNA profession in NM.

Click Here to Nominate 

*Make sure you are charged for the correct registration rate. If the ticket levels on the left are not correct, please clear your selection and choose only the option that fits your desired registration.

Full Student Conference Registration - $250 (you do not need to select each day of registration in addition to the full conference registration)

Student Single Day Rate - $125/day

If you are interested in signing up as a headline exhibitor, elite exhibitor, or a membership exhibitor, please contact Laura Moritz at [email protected] or (336) 577-8450.

Classic exhibitors, please continue through the registration process here.

Thank you for registering for NMANA's 2020 Virtual Conference!

Please check your email for confirmation. If you have any questions, please contact Laura Moritz at [email protected] or (336) 577-8450.

Thank you for donating to NMANA! Your contribution allows us to continue our mission to support, inspire and advance the profession of nurse anesthesia in New Mexico.

Please check your email for a contribution receipt. If you have any questions about your contribution, please contact NMANA at [email protected]

NMANA Board of Directors

No meetings scheduled at this time. Check back soon!

NMANA Government Relations Committee 

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Thank you to everyone who attended the 2021 Virtual Fall Conference!

Thank you to our incredible sponsors!

Your support of NMANA helps us continue our work for New Mexico's CRNAs.

Please click on the logos below to learn more about our sponsors.