“We are truly in the midst of an anesthesia provider staffing shortage,” said Taylor Shane, financial officer of AnestaWeb, Inc. “The answer to this shortage is for Universities to provide more anesthesia programs and to take a close look at the Anesthesiologist Assistant profession. The Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) will ultimately help meet the ever growing staffing shortages along with CRNA’s by providing quality anesthesia care with reduced expense to insurance companies and patients.”

Although Anesthesiologist Assistant’s have been practicing safely for over 30 years, they are advancing considerably as legislation is redefining their role as physician assistant specialists. The Anesthesiologist Assistant participates actively in outpatient and inpatient care, operating rooms, recovery rooms, outpatient clinics, intensive care units and outpatient surgery centers. Anesthesiologist assistant’s will continue to thrive as partners in the care of surgical and medical patients. They are valued and respected by Anesthesiologists and surgical colleagues and are compassionate, committed, dedicated members of the Anesthesia care team. Anesthesiologist assistant’s will eventually be licensed in every state throughout the country. Currently Anesthesiologist assistant’s practice in 16 states, Florida being the newest state to pass legislation on March 31, 2005.

To become an AA the candidate must obtain a baccalaureate degree preferably in a science related field (but this is not mandatory). You must complete the medical prerequisites (English, General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, General physics, Calculus) with above average grades. Once accepted into the Anesthesiologist Assistant program, the candidate will train for approx. 27 months, earn a Masters degree in science and eventually take the Certifying Examination for Anesthesiologist Assistants. The Anesthesiologist Assistant’s earning potential is comparable to CRNA’s with average earnings of 95,000 to 150,000 annually. Nova Southeastern University is the first educational facility in Florida to announce their new Anesthesiologist Assistant program, which is now registering students for their June 2006 program.

The shortage of anesthesia providers in the marketplace guarantees job opportunities. With healthcare facilities and hospitals scrutinizing their bottom lines, Anesthesiologist Assistant’s offer an attractive option for providing anesthesia care.
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Christopher Green is President of AnestaWeb, Inc. For more information, e-mail AnesthesiaAssistant@yahoo.com or visit www.AnesthesiaAssistant.com.

“I wanted to be in a state where there was an ocean culture,” he says.

Things began to fall into place when the legislature for another state known for its ocean culture, Florida, licensed Anesthesiologist Assistants in 2004.  His wife was considering law schools there, making the Sunshine State an ideal choice for the couple.  Shane was well-qualified, having graduated from the AA program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Politics Stood in the Way

But Shane didn’t realize the job search would take months.  Even though Anesthesiologist Assistants were licensed, no one had been hired yet, and there was a lot of hesitation among anesthesia groups to do so.  In fact, there was pressure NOT to hire Anesthesiologist Assistants.

“I actually had to talk to many groups,” he remembers.  “All were positive about AAs, but some were apprehensive to hire us even though they desperately needed staff.  This was because of a few vocal nurse anesthetists who openly threatened to walk out if I was hired.”

This did not happen with the group that eventually hired Shane, Anesthesia Unlimited.  But the road through other groups and hospitals was bumpy.

“I was the first AA working under an AA license in the state of Florida and I am proud of that.  However being the original can be difficult.”