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A Publication of the Georgia Association of Nurse Anesthetists Volume 66 Spring 2011Certified RegisteredNurse AnesthetistsCRNAs Represent nearly150 years of qualityanesthesia Safely administerapproximately 32 millionanesthetics in the USevery year Represented by 44,000CRNAs nationwide andover 1100 here in Georgia Are the sole anesthesiaproviders in nearly100% of rural hospitalsthroughout the country. Practice in every type ofclinical setting.Mission StatementThe Georgia Association ofNurse Anesthetists is a nonprofit organization committedto advancing patient safetyby supporting and furtheringthe practice of nurseanesthesia in Georgia.www.gana.orgReport from the President“One Bad Apple Doesn’tSpoil the Whole Bunch”by Rose M. Synsmir, CRNA, MSN, MSAs early as 1916, patient advocacy has beenat the core of Georgia’s nurse anesthetistsresponsibilities, and it is incumbent to never takethat responsibility lightly. On April 11, 2011,after a bench trial, a former CRNA in Georgiawas found guilty of 34 charges including sexualassault of a person in custody, aggravated sodomy,aggravated child molestation and unlawfulsurveillance of patients. He faces a possible lifesentence and up to 1.8 million in fines. Hispatients and their families’ lives continue to beprofoundly affected in negative ways. As a result,our profession is faced with having to make surethe world understands that this CRNA’s actionswere in no way representative of over 42,000CRNAs who safely care for more than 32 millionpatients in the United States each year.Patients are never more vulnerable than whenthey are under anesthesia, and as CRNAs it isour duty to be their voice if there appears tobe even the slightest threat to their well being.We serve as our patients’ protectors while theyare under our care, safeguarding their passagethrough the various stages of anesthesia. Theyput their absolute trust in us; likewise, theirfamilies entrust their loved ones to our care. Thisis an enormous responsibility, and respectingit is vital to being successful in our calling asanesthesia professionals.Ensuring the Confidence of thePatients We ServeOne of the most rewarding aspects of workingas a nurse anesthetist is when patients wake upafter surgery and say with surprise, “Is it done?”To them, it seems like the procedure only took afew seconds. Little do they realize that while theyslept and the surgeon worked, a nurse anesthetistwas watching over them like a “guardian angel,”monitoring their every heartbeat and breath,and ensuring a successful operation.As advanced practice registered nursesspecializing in the art and science of anesthesia,CRNAs are patient advocates. The care weprovide allows patients to endure surgery andother procedures that a little more than a centuryago would not have been possible. At the sametime, anesthesia renders our patients incapableof advocating for themselves. That’s why it iscrucial for us to be vigilant on their behalf. YourGANA Board recognizes the significance of theevents that lead to this individual’s conviction.Although very unfortunate, this isolated incidentdoes not define the entire profession. At the riskof sounding cliché, it bears repeating that “Onebad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch.” nGANABoard of Directors MeetingSaturday, May 14, 2011at the Spring Meetingin Atlanta(Meeting is OPEN to all GANA members)

To & FroGANA Officers 2010-2011Rose Synsmir, President11840 Devon Downs TrailAlpharetta, GA 30005Work Phone: 917-723-8409Home Phone: 770-232-4715Email: rsynsmir@aol.comBarry Cranfill, ImmediatePast President4246 N. Mountain Road, N.E.Marietta, GA 30066Work Phone: 770-251-2060Work Fax: 770-251-8567Home Phone: 770-356-2165Email: bcranfill@sentryanesthesia.comRichard DouberlyRichard Douberly, Director922 S. Lake DriveDublin, GA 31027Home Phone: 912-704-0414Email: r.douberly@hotmail.comCarmen Simmons625 Aunt Lucy Lane, Suite 56Smyrna, GA 30082Home Phone: 678-570-6328Email: simmons carmen@hotmail.comJames Masiongale369 Sugar Creek DriveGrovetown, GA 30813Work Phone: 706-721-8215Work Fax: 706-721-8206Home Phone: 706-869-0797Email: jmasiong@mcg.eduDaniel Dell142 Tanglewood DriveMoultrie, GA 31768Work Phone: 229-456-0450Home Phone: 229-890-2238Email: ddellcrna@gmail.comTo & FroFrom the Executive Directorby Christy A. Dunkelberger, Esq.AANA ElectionsRepresentatives for GANASteve Smith, Federal PoliticalDirector1132 White Cloud RidgeSnellville, GA 30078Work Phone: 404-429-8553Home Phone: 770-972-6225Email: slldt@comcast.netChristy A. Dunkelberger, Esq.Executive Director/LegalCounsel1832 Highway 54 WestFayetteville, Georgia 30214O: 770-487-3900F: 770-632-1625ganaoffice@bellsouth.netBrent DuBois, President Elect1177 Moore RoadDanville, GA 31017Home Phone: 478-962-0814Work Phone: 478-230-9708Work Fax: 478-962-0201Home Phone: 478-962-0814Email: topgunanesthesia@aol.com Monty Veazey, Lobbyist610 North Ridge AvenueSteve Smith, Vice President P.O. Box 1572Tifton, Georgia 317931132 White Cloud RidgeP: 229-386-8660Snellville, GA 30078F: 229-386-8662Work Phone: 404-429-8553mveazey@gach.orgHome Phone: 770-972-6225Home Fax: 770-972-6225Paul Santoro, AANA PresidentEmail: slldt@comcast.net222 South Prospect AvenueMelanie Marshall, Secretary Park Ridge, IL 60068Phone: 847-655-1106527 St. Barbara’s LaneEmail: psantoro@aanabod.comMarietta, GA 30064Phone: 404-271-4884Janice Izlar, AANA ViceEmail: melgator@yahoo.comPresident6 Huntingwood RetreatBill Agudelo, TreasurerSavannah, GA 31411403 Lakeview PlaceWork Phone: 912-547-7201Macon, GA 31211Home Phone: 912-598-1027Work Phone 478-787-9153Home Fax: 912-598-9436Home Phone: 478-742-0695Email: bkagudelo@yahoo.com Email: jjizlar@aol.comGANA Directors 2010-2011Report from the Executive DirectorSharon Pearce, AANARegion 2 Director1366 Becks Nursery RoadLexington, NC 27292Phone: 336-250-6008Email: spearce@aanabod.comWhitney Huffman, MCGStudent Representative802 Hickman RoadAugusta, GA 30904Home Phone: 706-799-0537Email: whuffman@students.mcg.eduBrooke Kesler, MCCGStudent Representative171 Strickland CircleColbert, GAHome Phone: 706-224-1610Email: abkesler@charter.netCommunicationwww.gana.orgHelp put Georgia on the map! Two Georgia CRNAs will be on the AANA ballot in2011. Janice Izlar, Georgia CRNA and current AANA Vice President, is running forAANA President-elect. GANA is extremely proud to support Janice in her endeavorto lead the AANA in the coming years. Janice has served Georgia in many capacitiesas a CRNA, including serving as our President in 2000. Her many years of dedicationto CRNA practice and her proven leadership make her an excellent candidate to serveas AANA President-elect and succeed on to become President. Please join GANA andshow your support for Janice Izlar.Steve Smith, GANA Vice President, FPD and Communications Chair is running forthe AANA Resolutions Committee. Steve has been diligently serving and activelyinvolved in GANA for many years. He joined the GANA Board in 2006 and has beenworking nonstop for CRNAs ever since. He became President in 2009 and remainsactive and committed to being an advocate for CRNAs. Please join GANA and showyour support for Steve Smith.2011 Legislative SessionThe gavel sounded on Georgia’s 2011 legislative session which adjourned sine die onApril 14th. Some Bills of interest are as follows:HB 47 was introduced by Rep. Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City) to allow individualaccident and sickness insurance policies approved for issuance in another state tobe sold in Georgia. These plans would not have to comply with Georgia insuranceplan requirements. Therefore, certain services may not be covered to the extent thatGeorgia residents are accustomed. HB 47 passed the House and the Senate and nowawaits the Governor’s signature to become law.HB 303 was introduced by Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Cobb County) to revise protocollanguage of the medical practice act related to delegation of authority to physicianassistants and advanced practice registered nurses. Medical delegation was expandedto include the authority to request, receive, and sign for professional samples topatients. Further it grants the authority to sign, certify and endorse all documentsrelating to health care provided to a patient within one’s scope of practice, such as,physical examination forms of all state agencies, and verification and evaluation formsof the Department of Community Health and the Department of Corrections. Theauthority to sign death certificates or assign disability ratings, however, was specificallyrestricted. HB 303 passed the House and the Senate and awaits the Governor’ssignature.SB 100 was introduced by Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) adds a new type ofnursing education program that the Board of Nursing may approve. The new typeof program includes a nonprofit postsecondary institution of higher education that isfour years, but that is not accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S.Department of Education. The curriculum has to meet criteria not less stringentthat that of other Board approved programs. The Board is given the discretion todecide of the curriculum meets the standards. This Bill became the vehicle for othermeasures that did not pass on their own. For example, language was added from SB67 that prohibits the use of the title “nurse” unless the individual is a R.N. or L.P.N.(continued on page 4)2www.gana.org

2011 GANA Calendar of EventsNominationsfor the 2011Rosalie McDonaldAwardNow Being AcceptedGANA Board Meetings(Begin at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted)May 14, 2011at the GANA Spring Meeting in Atlantaat 12:15 p.m.August 27, 2011MCG in AugustaGANA EventsGANA Spring MeetingMay 14-15, 2011 in AtlantaWaverly Renaissance at Cobb GalleriaGeorgia Public Broadcasting – TV TelethonSpring of 2011 – TBAGANA Annual Fall MeetingSeptember 30-October 2, 2011 in AtlantaCrowne Plaza Ravinia at Perimeter MallAANA EventsAANA Annual MeetingAugust 6-10, 2011 in Boston, MAGANA is seeking nominations for a CRNA to receive the 2011Rosalie McDonald Award. Please nominate a worthy CRNA forthis prestigious award. All nominations must be submitted byAugust 1st to the GANA office. Nominations can be submitted bymail, fax or email toGANA, 1832 Highway 54 W. Fayetteville, GA 30214; facsimile:770.632.1625; or ganaoffice@bellsouth.net.Rosalie McDonald spearheaded the GANA in 1938. She wasthe first GANA President and the 6th AANA President. Be proudof your profession. Honor a fellow CRNA by nominating him orher for their contribution to our profession. The honoree will bepresented with the award at the GANA Annual Meeting this yearin Atlanta at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Atlanta Perimeter at Raviniaon October 1.Keep Georgia On Your Mind When You VoteGeorgia Association of Nurse Anesthetists proudly supports its proven leaders for AANA 2011 ballotJanice J. Izlar, CRNA, DNAPfor President-electStephen D. Smith, CRNA, MAfor Resolutions CommitteeThis paid advertisement does not signify or imply AANA endorsement of the candidates.Passionate Visionary Dedicated Experiencedwww.gana.org3To & Fro