Newswise — Park Ridge, Illinois – Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and other healthcare professionals will gather and discuss issues and solutions for enhanced recovery after surgery, access to quality anesthesia care, and technology’s role in healthcare, among other topics during the Nurse Anesthesia Annual Congress of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), Sept. 21-25, 2018, in Boston, Mass.

Congress attendees will learn about the “Mechanics of Innovation” from keynote speaker Pablos Holman, the notorious hacker, inventor, entrepreneur, and technology futurist who has contributed to visions for the future of urban transportation, entertainment, education, and healthcare.

For five days, anesthesia professionals from around the world will take advantage of continuing education opportunities, hands-on workshops, state-of-the-science presentations, and other compelling educational sessions. In addition, an onsite trade show will feature pharmaceutical companies, equipment manufacturers, and other healthcare-related businesses.

“As the hands-on providers of more than 43 million anesthetics each year in the United States, CRNAs have taken the lead in the fight against opioid abuse by implementing the enhanced recovery after surgery model of pain management when possible,” said AANA President Bruce Weiner, DNP, MSNA, CRNA. This meeting underlines the importance of the critical role that nurse anesthetists play in our healthcare system.”

There are more than 52,000 AANA members, including CRNAs and student registered nurse anesthetists, practicing in the U.S. healthcare system and fulfilling and providing anesthesia in every type of practice setting where anesthesia is required.

“Serving as innovators in the use of technology, pain management, and ensuring access to quality anesthesia care for all patients will continue to be priorities in the nurse anesthesia profession,” said Weiner. “CRNAs represent the future of anesthesia care.”

About the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Founded in 1931 and located in Park Ridge, Ill., and Washington, D.C., the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is the professional organization representing more than 52,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and student registered nurse anesthetists across the United States. As advanced practice registered nurses and anesthesia specialists, CRNAs administer approximately 43 million anesthetics to patients in the United States each year and are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America. In some states, CRNAs are the sole anesthesia professionals in nearly 100 percent of rural hospitals. For more information, visit www.aana.com and www.future-of-anesthesia-care-today.com.