Threat of Stanislaus hospital closure has some Modesto residents concerned | Opinion
Vital health care
“Stanislaus hospital could close after Medicare decision,” (modbee.com, April 23)
The recent announcement that the Stanislaus Surgical Hospital’s Medicare coverage will be terminated is concerning for patients in the Modesto community. This hospital is vital to providing local access to health care.
The California Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and its Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) members are dedicated to ensuring that patients receive high quality and safe anesthesia care in all settings.
CRNAs are board-certified, autonomous practitioners who plan and deliver anesthesia to patients of all health complexities. These advanced practice registered nurses with years of specialized training in the delivery of anesthesia not only safely providing surgical, obstetrical anesthesia services throughout California, they are the sole providers of anesthesia in all branches of the U.S. military.
As autonomous health care professionals, CRNAs collaborate with patients and a variety of health care professionals to provide patient-centered, evidence-based care where and when it is needed most.
Through governor action, legislation and licensure, CRNAs in California are qualified to practice autonomously and provide patients with the necessary anesthesia for their procedures. CANA is committed to ensuring that all patients continue to receive safe, high quality anesthesia care and that hospital policies support CRNA licensure and patient safety.
Sandra Bordi
President, California Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
Opinion
Trusted professionals
“Stanislaus hospital could close after Medicare decision,” (modbee.com, April 23)
This article stated that Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) were providing anesthetic drugs outside of their scope of practice. This is an incorrect statement; CRNAs may administer any medications that anesthesiologists administer. CRNAs are highly trained anesthesia providers who may practice in California independently, without physician supervision.
CRNAs are the only anesthesia professionals who have acquired critical care experience prior to starting in their anesthesia programs. This is typically a minimum of two years of experience in an intensive care unit. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing, experienced registered nurses attend a formal CRNA program which is three to four years long. Since 2022, CRNAs are required to have a doctoral degree.
CRNAs practice in every setting where anesthesia is delivered. They administer over 50 million anesthetics annually in the U.S. and represent more than 80% of the anesthesia providers in rural U.S. counties. These trusted professionals provide excellent, safe, compassionate care to their patients.
Mary Frances Henry, CRNA
Modesto
Resist fear tactics
“California spends billions on homelessness without knowing the results. A bill could change that,” (sacbee.com, April 22)
The Californians for Safer Communities’ ballot measure aims to send more people to prison without addressing the root causes that drive theft: poverty. This response to a systemic economic problem is a costly mistake we’ve seen play out before, with each person we place in a prison cell costing taxpayers $132,860 per year.
There is a more cost-effective solution to the one proposed: invest in people over punitive punishment and build pathways to livable wage careers; and invest in apprenticeship programs and fair chance hiring initiatives to ensure the 8 million Californians saddled with an arrest record have access to living wage employment and economic mobility. These are investments that have a proven return on investment and are effective at reducing rates of recidivism.
California voters made the right decision in approving Proposition 47. Let’s hope voters see through the smoke screens and resist the invitation of fear tactic politics.
Ken Oliver
Oakland
Player safety
“Children can still play tackle football, despite risk of brain damage, after California bill dies,” (modbee.com, Jan. 17)
Schools should not discontinue football due to injuries because they can instead take precautions and prevent injuries.
High school quarterback Evan Murray died after sustaining a football injury, raising questions about sport safety. There were three other players that passed during that same season. I believe that football is causing deaths among young people due to a failure by coaches to look after players’ safety.
Coaches can and should teach proper instruction to prevent injuries, and schools can also provide safety gear like extra protection pads.
Zeniah Quiralte
Merced
Proponent for early college
“Early college lifts high school students, including those at risk,” (modbee.com, May 13, 2021)
I think that it is appropriate in some cases for students to skip their senior and even junior years and go straight into college. This can motivate students to do more and accomplish goals faster. Extra education can better inform students to make decisions about future plans and career goals.
Ariel Keltner
Merced
