In 2008 the ASA conducted extensive research on the perceptions surrounding anesthesiologists, and found that patients, and many in the medical community are too often unaware of the important role anesthesiologists play in modern medicine. Anesthesiologists' work is too often perceived by others as routine or low risk without understanding that anesthesiologists are highly trained medical doctors who make lifesaving surgery and pain management possible.

The 2009 Oregon Society of Anesthesiologists Spring Meeting will be held at the Salishan Resort in Gleneden Beach, Oregon on the weekend of May 16-17.

We have an exciting program planned for you which will include:

• Mark Warner, M.D., ASA’s First Vice President and Dean of the Mayo School of Medicine, will present an ASA Update and an educational session on “Catastrophic Positioning Problems You Hope Never to Encounter.”
• Andreas Loepke, M.D., Ph.D. of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center will discuss the effects of anesthesia on the developing brain as well as managing adult congenital heart disease for the generalist.
• Matthew Abrahams, M.D. of OHSU will review the state of evidence on the efficacy of ultrasound in regional anesthesia, and the effect of multi-modal anesthesia approaches in managing pain in the peri-operative period
• Dawn Dillman, M.D. and several OHSU residents will lead Problem-Based Learning Discussions (PBLD), which proved very popular at last year’s meeting.
• OSA will host a Business Meeting and Election of Officers for the next biennium.

We are also planning a number of social activities associated with the event. Please put the date on your calendar and check back here from time to time for periodic updates.

Click here to download the brochure for the meeting, which includes information on a special hotel rate available to attendees.

UPDATE:The OSA Spring meeting has been accredited for up to 6 Category 1 Continuing Medical Education credits. Thanks to the planning committee (Doctors Dillman, Swide, Evans and Cohen) for their efforts.

Norman A. Cohen, M.D.

Organized medicine is facing some very challenging times. Between a Medicare program that threatens over 40% cuts in physician payments over the next several years, an economy in turmoil, and a new administration promising significant changes to health care financing, physicians understandably feel themselves under siege. Despite this environment, anesthesiology has had several notable and significant successes over the past few years. A nearly 25% improvement in the Medicare anesthesia conversion factor in the beginning of 2008, correction of the flawed anesthesia teaching rule policy via the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act passed this past summer over a Presidential veto, and a nearly 5% positive update in our conversion factor effective January 2009 are examples of the value of our professional organization and the rewards of an effective and focused advocacy agenda. These efforts have put about an additional $30,000 a year in the wallet of each member. These successes require strong grassroots efforts. Each of us needs to do our part, responding to "calls to action" by writing or calling our members of Congress and by contributing to the ASA's political action committee, ASAPAC. Despite this having been a game changing election and despite these recent successes, our members' level of participation in ASAPAC was not nearly as good as it has been in year's past. This must change as we face unprecedented threats to our specialty and to medicine in general. If you have not contributed, consider doing so. It's easy, requiring only a visit to the Member's Only area of ASA's website at http://www.asahq.org.

Meeting report submitted by Angela Kendrick, MD

The Oregon Society of Anesthesiologists returned to Salishan Resort for the Spring Meeting May 17th and 18th. The meeting opened Saturday morning with a new format for us; the Problem Based Learning Discussion. Many of you have participated in this format at the ASA. Dr. Dawn Dillman, Assistant Program Director for OHSU's APOM, helped the residents organize for their presentations and then she led the case discussions. Dr. Scott Kennedy, a CA 1 resident at OHSU, presented the first case scenario; an obese asthmatic patient needing to undergo lithotripsy for renal calculi. Dr. Dillman circulated with a microphone through the audience to allow us to participate in the work-up and management of the case. Dr. J. Sax Gilbert presented the second case, a male for repeat aorto-bifemoral bypass who suffered a severe allergic transfusion reaction during the operative course.

Medicare published its 2009 Physician Fee Schedule rule in the Federal Register this week. Due to the legislative mandates from the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA), the average national anesthesia conversion factor will increase nearly 5%, this on top of a nearly 25% increase last year. The ASA has issued a release on their website with additional information. Every member of the Oregon congressional delegation supported MIPPA, which also included a fix for the anesthesia teaching rule set to go into effect in January 2010. The Oregon Society of Anesthesiologists is grateful for the leadership shown by our members of Congress this past summer in both passing this important bill and over-riding a presidential veto in the process.

The Joint Commission issued a Sentinel Event alert relating to anti-coagulation administration errors. There have been a number of high profile, life threatening complications associated with incorrect dosing of heparin and other anti-coagulants. To learn more, see the Joint Commission alert at http://www.jointcommission.org/SentinelEvents/SentinelEventAlert/sea_41.htm.

The Oregon Board of Medical Examiners requires that all physicians complete a mandatory one hour online CME course and at least 6 hours of pain related CME between January 1, 2001 and the January 2, 2009 deadline. These requirements have been mentioned at OSAonline.org before.

If you have attended the OSA's educational meetings over the past several years, you likely have met the requirement for the 6 hours of CME. This handy PDF outlines our educational offerings, so that you can track your pain-related CME obtained from us.

For those who do not have enough pain-related CME, the Oregon Medical Association is also offering a number of courses around the state to help you meet the mandate. You can find out about these courses at the OMA website. The course brochure can be found here.

The Department of Anesthesiology and Peri-Operative Medicine at OHSU will be hosting an airway conference on Saturday, September 13, 2008. The Annual Haugen Lecture will take place during this seminar and will feature Andranik Ovassapian, M.D. discussing "Avoiding or Managing Unexpected Failed Intubation." For additional information on registration and the entire course curriculum, which is eligible for up to 6.5 CME units, please download the brochure.

OHSU's Department of Anesthesiology and Peri-Operative Medicine and the Oregon Society of Anesthesiologists will be hosting a reception at the ASA Annual Meeting in Orlando on Saturday, October 18, 2008 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. EDT. For details, please see this brochure. Your OSA Leadership appreciates Dr. Kirsch and his administrative staff's help in once again arranging this annual get together.

Hope to see you there!

OHSU's Doernbecher Pediatric Pain Management Center was the only pediatric pain center recognized by the American Pain Society as a Center of Excellence for 2008. Providing both acute and chronic pain services to children, the center works in a multi-disciplinary fashion to alleviate suffering for Doernbecher's patients. Led by ASA member Dr. Jeffrey Koh, several anesthesiologists, including past-OSA President Angela Kendrick are part of the team. Congratulations to all involved! To learn more about this prestigious award, please see this announcement at OHSU's website.