Florida Update
by Rob Wagner, AA-C
The 2004 Florida Legislature passed senate bill 626 and was signed by Governor Bush in June 2004. The bill creates the licensing of Anesthesiologist Assistants. The Board of Medicine and the Osteopathic Medical Board created a Joint Committee. The Committee has finalized rule language and submitted them to the FLorida Department of State for Adoption. At this time, the Florida Board of Medicine is ready to accept applications for licensure as Anesthesiologist Assistants.
Please go to the following web site to download an application form: Florida AA application form
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NEW! The Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine approved the first Anesthesiologist Assistant license in Florida at their recent meeting, held March 31, 2005. Robert Wagner, AA-C, pictured in the middle, will receive the first license. On his left is the Committee Chair, Gordon Ondra, M.D. and on Mr. Wagner's right is another Committee Member, Mammen Zachariah, M.D. Good luck to Mr. Wagner.
Gordon Ondra, M.D.,Robert Wagner, AA-C,
Mammen Zachariah, M.D.
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AnestaWeb, AAAA and the FSA (Florida Society of Anesthesiologists) are working to promote the AA profession to anesthesia groups in florida. Register for AA job listings below or at www.AnesthesiaAssistant.com at the AA Job Registration sign-up link.
Who are Anesthesia Technicians, Certified Anesthesia Technicians and Certified Anesthesia Technologists?
The entry level Anesthesia Technician assists the Anesthesiologist, Anesthesiologist Assistant, CRNA and the O.R. circulating nurse (R.N.). There are three levels of hierarchy in the Anesthesia Technicians profession: Anesthesia Technician (A.T.) to Certified Anesthesia Technician (Cer.A.T.) to Certified Anesthesia Technologist (Cer.A.T.T.).
The Anesthesia Technician and Anesthesia Technologist is a strong and growing profession with their own society (ASATT), By Laws, their own official publication magazine, annually conference meeting both clinical & technical, accredited schools obtaining a 1 year certification, 2 year Associate Degree in Science (health), and 5 year Bachelor of Science Degree in Anesthesia Technology (Stony Brook in New York). The Anesthesia Technician / Anesthesia Technologists Liaison consists of an: ASA-Anesthesiologist M.D.A., AANA/C.R.N.A., and hopefully soon to be American Society of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA), Anesthesiologist Assistant (A.A.-C).
The Anesthesia Technician / Anesthesia Technologist Certification Test Development and Test Writing Committee consists of an Anesthesiologist MDA, CRNA, a professor of Anesthesia Education, PAs, a corporate representative, Certified Anesthesia Technician and Certified Anesthesia Technologist. In the Anesthesia Technicians scope of practice, the Anesthesia Technician / Anesthesia Technologist can perform Technical & Clinical skills such as operating, training and teaching trouble shooting techniques with anesthesia machines, Intra Aortic Balloon pump machines (counter pulsation procedures), cell saver machines, level one auto rapid machines, F.M.S. auto rapid machines, R.I.S. machines and IMed Pumps. The Anesthesia Technician / Anesthesia Technologist are also certified in BCLS, ACLS,& PALS, they operate cardiac output monitors, obtain PA wedge pressures (Swan-Ganz catheter line), obtain cardiac calculation out put from patients and read back numbers to the MDA,CRNA, or AA-C (under supervision). The Anesthesia Technician or Anesthesia Technologist start IVs and start Arterial Lines under supervision of an Anesthesiologist M.D. Anesthesia Technicians are "trained" and "certified" by the MDAs and Hospitals. Anesthesia Technicians and Anesthesia Technologists can mentor and train lower level technicians, nurses, medical students, and anesthesia residents on anesthesia technology procedures.
In closing, the Anesthesia Technician or Anesthesia Technologist works within their "scope of practice" and this practice depends on the particular state where the Anesthesia Technician or Anesthesia Technologist resides. The Anesthesia Technician and Anesthesia Technologist are highly knowledgeable, skilled, respected and competent members of the Anesthesia Care Team.
