Posted by Money$$ on December 21, 2006, 8:26 am, in reply to "Re: R.N. to A.A."
DD,
I realize you are just a Nurse so I will go slow in explaining the REAL situation to you. Major Medical Center Anesthesia Departments are run by DOCTORS and not Nurses. Thus, the MDA's CONTROL who works at the hospital. They can choose CRNA's or AA's to work for them. This is called a Group usually with a contract to provide Anesthesia services.
CRNA's and AA's are EMPLOYED by the Group which pays everyone. The Group (owned by the MDA's) decides whether to hire a CRNA or AA. Both represent a "billing opportunity" to the Group. Thus, CRNA's provide the majority of revenue for Groups across the country. Based on current law, CRNA's may generate MORE $$$ for the Group depending on the location and types of cases. Usually, this is just a small percentage of cases that CRNA's can do "alone" so AA"s are utilized in the main operating room locations.
Independent CRNA's practice without MDA supervision and usually in a CRNA only practice or Independently. The majority of Medical Centers do not utilize "CRNA only" practices. Outpatient Centers/Plastic Surgeon's office/Dental Office are areas where CRNA only practices do exist.