Assembly Resolution Recognizes the Important Role of Anesthesiologists in Patient Safety and Physician-Led Anesthesia Care
(January 28, 2025 – Sacramento, CA) On January 27th the California State Assembly adopted Assembly Concurrent Resolution 11, authored by Assembly Member Patrick Ahrens (D-Campbell), to recognize the week of January 26- February 2, 2025 as “Anesthesiologists Week.”
The resolution passed the Assembly Floor with unanimous and bipartisan support, with 66 members officially signing on as coauthors.
When introducing ACR 11, Assembly Member Ahrens said, “Anesthesiologists are medical doctors who have completed four years of medical school, have the highest levels of training during anesthesiology residency, and must complete between 12,000 and 16,000, inclusive, house of training prior to practicing independently.”
Ahrens welcomed several CSA leaders to the Assembly floor, including Sydney Thompson, MD, FASA, CSA Vice Speaker, House of Delegates, Todd Primack, DO, FASA, CSA Chair, Legislative and Practice Affairs Division, and Christian Bohringer, MBBS, CSA District Director. Also in attendance in the gallery were anesthesiologists from UC Davis and Stanford University.
The resolution states, “The American Medical Association completed a public opinion survey that concluded that 70 percent of patients want a physician to administer and monitor their anesthesia levels.” It also states that, “The California Society of Anesthesiologists continues to take proactive steps to promote patient safety in all health care settings, and increase education about pain management, safe opioid use, and non-opioid alternatives to pain management.”
The California Society of Anesthesiologists is committed to promoting the importance of physician-led anesthesia care.
“All patients deserve access to physician-led anesthesia care, which is the highest standard for safety and utilizes different members of the healthcare team in different roles,” said Todd Primack, DO, FASA, CSA Chair, Legislative and Practice Affairs Division. “Anesthesiologists have a proven track record in advancing the practice of medicine, designing and delivering best practices, and improving safety. Recognizing Anesthesiologists Week provides an opportunity to celebrate this important specialty and the essential role of anesthesiologists in protecting safety, improving patient outcomes, and improving healthcare system efficiencies.”
Across the country, the American Society of Anesthesiologists and other state component societies are also taking action during this week to educate policymakers, healthcare executives, and the public about the importance of physician-led care and that there is a clear distinction between anesthesiologists and other valued members of the Anesthesia Care Team, as well as how anesthesiologists’ education and training enables them to navigate vital moments of care. More information about preparing for surgery is at https://madeforthismoment.asahq.org/preparing-for-surgery/, and more information about the role of anesthesiologists is at https://www.safeanesthesiacare.com/.
The California Society of Anesthesiologists is a physician organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of the anesthesiology profession. CSA provides education, offers valuable resources and insight for anesthesiologists’ practice and engages in healthcare policy-making in California. For more information visit http://www.csahq.org/ and www.safeanesthesiacarecom.
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