Not a radical idea

A major part of access to obstetrical services and surgical services in Oklahoma is access to anesthesia. Certified registered nurse anesthetists are the group of advanced practice nurses working in rural Oklahoma providing the vast majority of this service. Hospitals aren’t allowed to offer OB delivery services if there isn’t anesthesia available for emergency cesarean sections. CRNAs also place epidurals for laboring mothers to provide pain relief during labor.

We are in a health care crisis and rural Oklahoma is suffering. We must work to increase access to these vital surgical and obstetrical services. The first step must be taken by the Legislature — remove physician supervision from CRNA practice. The law allows for CRNAs to be supervised by dentists, podiatrists, surgeons and other health care providers. Very few CRNAs outside of Oklahoma and Tulsa counties are being supervised by anesthesiologists. CRNAs are trusted by the surgeons they work with to be the anesthesia experts in the OR and birth suites.

This isn’t a radical idea — 40 other states have modernized their laws and removed physician supervision. Even the U.S. military doesn’t require CRNAs to be supervised. Study after study proves the safety of CRNAs is equal to that of our physician colleagues. We have more than Oklahoma and Tulsa counties. It’s time for Oklahoma to start taking care of all 77 counties. Let’s stop being in the bottom for education and health care.

Jenny Schmitt, Mustang

Schmitt is 2018-2019 president of the Oklahoma Association of Nurse Anesthetists.