Posted by Dave J on August 18, 2008, 8:50 am, in reply to "Re: More information"
Correction.
AAs MUST be supervised by an anesthesiologist under TODAY'S rules, but rules and laws can be changed. It is possible that down the road their title and function could be changed and they could do the exact same things as nurse anesthetists. The difference is NOT engraved in stone.
2. Same comment. Just because AAs do not do much regional TODAY does not mean it can not change in the future.
The AAs if they are to be a professional group need to get control of their own practice laws. A good example to follow is how other "physician assistants" have moved from the area of direct supervision by a physician in an office to the ability to work in rural areas with only a phone call between them and their "supervising" physician.
Again, nothing is engraved in stone and subject to change, even the title of "Anesthesiologist Assistant" is subject to change.