1. Heather Baglio, RN, BSN, SRNA Jessica Hammond, RN, BSN, SRNA
An Overview of the Anesthesiologist Assistant: What the CRNA Should Know
Heather Baglio, RN, BSN, SRNA
Jessica Hammond, RN, BSN, SRNA

2. Objectives
Explain the historical development of the Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) profession
Define the scope and standards of practice for AAs
Discuss specific legalities of the AAs practice
Discuss the AAs educational background, curricula, program accreditation, certification and continuing education
Differentiate the role of the CRNA and AA in the healthcare setting.

3. History
Joachim S. Gravenstein
John E. Steinhaus
Perry P. Volpitto

4. Facts and Figures
WHO ARE THEY??
HOW MANY ARE THERE??

5. By the Numbers…

6. ACT Model
Anesthesiologist
Resident Physician
CRNA AA

7. Educational Background

8. Admission Requirements
Bachelor’s degree
Science and math pre-requisites
MCAT/GRE
Clinical shadowing experience (8 hrs)
Personal Interview

9. Program of Study Master’s Degree Programs 24-28 months
didactic hours
Clinical hour requirements hours
Minimum of 600 cases (avg ~ 800)
All sub- specialties of anesthesia

10. CRNA vs. AA Education

11. Accreditation and Certification

12. Governing Entities/Professional Organizations

13. Scope

14. Legalities Supervision Prescriptive Authority
Anesthesiologist to AA Ratio

15. Location of Practice

16. Supervision and Practice Jurisdiction
CRNA AA

17. Patient Safety: What the Literature Says…
Evidence Supporting AAs
University Hospital Quality Assurance
Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
Evidence Supporting CRNAs
Dulisse & Cromwell (2010)
Needleman & Minnick (2009)
Pine, Holt & Lou (2003)
Simonson, Ahern & Hendryx (2007)

18. “Opinions have caused more ills than the plague or earthquakes on this little globe of ours.” -Voltaire

19. The Future

20. References
The American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants. (2012). Retrieved from
American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants. (2006, March 31). Statement on the anesthesia care team model. Retrieved from
American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants. (n.d.) AAAA statement on clinical doctorate degrees. Retrieved from
American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants. (2011, February). Comparison of AAs and CRNAs education and practice. Retrieved from
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (2012). Anesthesia assistant tool kit. Retrieved from
Berry, A.J., Odom, S.H. (2003). Assuring competency of anesthesiologist assistants: Education program accreditation and graduate certification. ASA Newsletter, 67(3), Retrieved from
Case Western Reserve University. (2010). Anesthesia program: Program overview. Retrieved from
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. (n.d.) Anesthesiologist assistant. Retrieved from
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. (2004). Standards and guidelines for the accreditation of educational programs in anesthesiologist assistant. Retrieved from
Daugherty, L., Fonseca R., Kumar, K.B., Michaud, P. (2010). An analysis of the labor markets for anesthesiology. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation. Retrieved from
Dulisse, B., & Cromwell, J. (2010). No harm found when nurse anesthetists work without supervision by physicians. Health Affairs, 29(8),
doi: /hlthaff
Emory University. (2013). Master of science program in anesthesiology. Retrieved from
Georgia Association of Nurse Anesthetists. (2012). Fact sheet about AAs. Retrieved from
Gravenstein, J.S., Steinhaus, J.E., & Volpitto, P.P. (1970). Analysis of manpower in anesthesiology. Anesthesiology, 33(3),
Gunn, I.P. (2000). Rural health care and the nurse anesthetist. CRNA, 11(2), doi: /CRNA
Institute of Medicine. (2011, June). Relieving pain in America: A blueprint for transforming prevention, care, education, and research (Report Brief). Retrieved from

21. References
Legislative Research Commission. (2007, February). A study of anesthesiologist assistants (Research Report No. 337). Retrieved from
Mackey, D.C. (2003). Anesthesiologist assistants: A new direction for the anesthesia care team begins to accelerate (finally!). ASA Newsletter, 67(3), 4. Retrieved from
Nagelhout, J. J. & Zaglaniczny, K. L. (Eds.). (2009). Nurse Anesthesia (4th Ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders.
National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistant. (n.d.). National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistant. Retrieved from
Needleman, J., Minnick, A.F. (2009). Anesthesia provider model, hospital resources, and maternal outcomes. Health Services Research, 44(2), doi: /j x
Nova Southeastern University. (n.d.) Anesthesiologist assistant: Program overview. Retrieved from
Pine, M., Holt, K.D., Lou, Y.B. (2003). Surgical mortality and type of anesthesia provider. AANA Journal, 71(2), Retrieved from
Plagenhoef, J.S. (2008). Anesthesiologist assistants vs. nurse anesthetists…what are the differences? ASA Newsletter, 72(2), Retrieved from
Simonson, D.C., Ahern, M.M., Hendryx, M.S. (2007). Anesthesia staffing and anesthetic complications during cesarean delivery. Nursing Research, 56(1), Retrieved from
South University. (2013). Anesthesiologist assistant program. Retrieved from
University of Missouri- Kansas City (n.d.) Master of science in anesthesia program. Retrieved from
Stafford, D.J. (2002, August, 1). AA Issue Heats up in Louisiana. Nurse. Retrieved from
Steinhaus, J. E., Evans, J.A.,& Frazier, W.T. (1973). The physician assistant in anesthesia? Anesthesia and Analgesia, 52(5),