California physicians are appealing the latest court decision that upheld the right for nurse anesthetists to administer anesthesia without physician supervision, an issue that has pitted nurses and doctors against each other in a nationwide turf battle.
Medicare allows state governors to opt out of a federal policy that requires physician supervision of nurse anesthetists when delivering anesthesia to Medicare patients. This provision is intended to address staffing shortages where anesthesiologists may not be readily available. California and 16 other states currently operate under the opt-out provision.
Opponents of the provision claim that the state's current scope of practice for nurse anesthetists does not allow for unsupervised practice.
To read more, click on the following link:
http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/page-1/TEC-262136/Nurse-Anesthetists-Scope-of-Practice-Challenged-Again-in-CA
Source: HealthLeaders Media
1 comment:
Our California acute care hospital is over 100 years old. We do not hire physician assistants and have just started with Nurse practitioner with Psychiatric privileges.
Regarding Anesthesiologists, we only have MD's and many of them locums.
Due to the nature of the high-risk specialty, I believe you do need a physician to have the broad experience of what to do when the patient experiences a difficulty.
Post a Comment