PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

In a Year of Drastic Changes, One Thing Remains the Same

Tripti C. Kataria, MD, MPH, FASA

As I write this column, we have passed a couple of significant milestones in history. It is the 1 year anniversary of the first case of COVID-19 in the United States and we have just surpassed 500,000 deaths due to this deadly pandemic.

Life changed so drastically a year ago. Our cities, schools, and operating rooms shut down. We were in a state of confusion and disbelief. How could it be with all of the technology and advancement in medical knowledge we could be so helpless? How could we be taken hostage by a virus – something that does not have a nucleus, or mitochondria and that cannot live independently?

With all of the change and at times chaos, an innate characteristic was put into gear – survival mode. Remember the 30 days of night shift from residency? You didn’t get to see your friends or family – your days and nights were confused – you just had to get through. Your body and mind shifted into a state in which you knew you had a task at hand and you had to get through it. While evolution had created this survival method for us to run away from dinosaurs and bears, it was not meant to be used for the long term.

Hence, we need to pause… and take a breath. The change in our environment has required us to do some deep introspection. While the newscasts are broadcasting the numbers of the pandemic and things outside still have not gone back to normal, there are some incredible things that have happened over this last year.

I believe the biggest evolutionary shift is in the use of technology. The ISA realized that the need for connection is even more important now than it was in the past. We use Zoom as a platform to educate and exchange ideas. The fact that you can participate in a meeting without the challenge of distance, traffic and the lost travel time was a breath of fresh air. Plus, you have the ability to “see” everyone! While this doesn’t replace the side conversations that occur in person, it did break a barrier allowing us to increase participation from all corners of the state. Without this pandemic, who knows how long it would have been for us to leverage this technology.

We have an opportunity to use this new world to re-examine what is truly important to us as individuals and as an organization. Where do we want to put our energy and resources? How can we achieve our goals?

Physician-led care is a core value of the ISA. We put our patients first and know that when a physician is involved in their care the outcomes are superior. All Illinoisans deserve a physician to be involved in their care. ASA polling shows:

• • 8 in 10 patients want a physician anesthesiologist by their side to keep them safe in surgery.
  • 9 in 10 surgeons believe physician anesthesiologists are the best-qualified to respond to complications and emergencies in the operating room.

The CRNAs pushed for independent practice in our state by introducing HB1820. Due to your advocacy, we were able to hold off an independent practice bill put forward by the CRNAs. You reached out to your colleagues, family and friends and called your IL representative to urge them to oppose HB1820. Almost 1200 witness slips were filed opposing this bill! It was the efforts of our membership and a coalition of physician organizations that helped us to preserve physician-led care. THANK YOU for standing up for physician-led anesthesia care. Thank you for supporting your ISA.

Throughout 2020, anesthesiologists answered the call of patients and healthcare. We stepped into the ICUs and ERs, and served as intubation teams that traveled throughout the hospital to save patients with COVID in respiratory distress. We innovated, converting anesthesia machines into ventilators, and turning ORs and PACUs into ICUs. Please take a moment to reach out to your legislators, and tell them a story of your daily life and how YOU continue to save patients’ lives.

This last year has been life altering, but we have made incredible strides to ensure we continue to keep connected. What hasn’t changed is our core values of patient safety and physician-led care. I want to thank all of you for your sacrifice and hard work on behalf of our patients.

                                 FROM THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

To the Physician Anesthesiologists of Illinois

Brian Birmingham, MD

2020 was undoubtedly a year like no other! The challenges were truly unprecedented. Nevertheless, under the energetic leadership of Drs. Sean Adams and Tripti Kataria, the Illinois Society of Anesthesiologists not only survived but thrived!

Physician Anesthesiologists in Illinois rose to the occasion, demonstrating the value of their extensive education and training. ‘Crisis Management’ applied not only to individual patients but to the whole medical system. Physician anesthesiologists’ skills were applied in the ICU, developing new treatment modalities, hospital-wide on special airway management teams, and in the OR, guiding safe perioperative care as surgical cases proceeded.

Now the citizens of Illinois need our support, and all should have access to high-quality physician-led care. To accomplish this, the Illinois Society of Anesthesiologists needs your participation. Now more than ever, there are opportunities to make important and specific contributions.

For example, consider signing up to participate on one of these committees:

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee has advanced the inclusion of all patients in high-quality care and the need for diverse leadership in our specialty.

The mission of the Physician Wellness Committee is essential in supporting physicians’ physical and psychological wellbeing in this time of trial and disruption.

A growing percentage of Physician Anesthesiologists are women, yet they are often underrepresented in leadership positions throughout our specialty. Mentoring, networking, and communication are all needed. Hence the importance of our Women in Anesthesiology Committee.

The Bylaws Committee evaluates and updates the rules, the infrastructure of our Society so that timely adjustments can keep the ISA adaptable and nimble in these tumultuous times.

The Governmental Affairs Committee engages legislators, administrators, and executive leaders in state government to continue physician leadership in anesthesia care.

Anesthesiologists practicing in less populated and rural settings face unique challenges. The new Ad-Hoc Committee on Rural and Downstate Affairs provides the collaborative action needed to ensure their continued success.

Getting our message out is critical, and communication methods have evolved dramatically in the past few years. Furthermore, different demographics communicate differently. Hence the need for a Committee on Communications to make sure our messaging reaches desired audiences.

There is power in numbers, and outreach to all practicing anesthesiologists in Illinois on an ongoing basis is crucial. This is the role of the Committee on Membership.

Of course, all these activities require money, and the Finance Committee works closely with the Board of Directors to ensure responsible fiscal management.

Furthermore, physicians in Anesthesiology training programs represent our future, so their participation in the Illinois Society’s Resident component is paramount.

Overseeing all this, the House of Delegates meets annually to ensure physician anesthesiologists from all regions, demographics, and practice models are represented in the Society’s decisions.

Also, the Society sponsors multiple opportunities for online and in-person education, collaboration, and networking. These are all designed to facilitate our members’ professional advancement and satisfaction.

We have all certainly learned over the past year that close collaboration is essential for survival and success. Your active participation is both welcome and vital!