Improving healthcare for LGBTQIA+ Community

June is national LGBTQIA+ pride month. The meaning of Pride month is just as varied and multifaceted as the individuals that make up this unique and diverse community. Pride month is a time to reflect on what it means to live in one's most genuine and authentic truth and to express that truth in a way that is unabashed. Pride is also a time to reflect on the progress that the LGBTQIA+ community has made when it comes to rights and civil liberties while also highlighting further opportunities to close gaps in equity. During pride month the community comes together in the form of parades and celebrations to openly show support for each other and for those that are not yet comfortable living in their truth so that they feel less isolated.

The intersections of the queer community and healthcare highlight a history of disparity based on gender expression and sexual orientation that has been rooted in implicit bias, institutional barriers, and a lack of training in regard to specific community needs. This disparity manifests as decreased access to healthcare, increased prevalence of preventable medical conditions, and increased morbidity and mortality related to mental health when compared to the general population. This disparity becomes even more profound when compounded with belonging to other traditionally underserved communities. We as a society have made great strides in improving these conditions but there is still much work to be done.

Opportunities for improvement include but aren't limited to:

- Inclusive sexual health education
- Increased funding to public health resources
- Intentional health screening for queer patients that highlights disease prevention and mental health while maintaining a nonjudgmental atmosphere
- Improved employer benefits for same-sex partners
- Healthcare benefits that include access to gender-affirming care
- Legislation that makes discrimination based on gender expression and sexual orientation illegal on a federal level
- Inclusive and intentional education for healthcare providers about the history of disparity and the specific health needs of the LGBTQIA+ community
- Active recruitment of healthcare providers from the LGBTQIA+ community to help identify and bridge gaps in care that can lead to disparity

As this Pride month begins, now is the time to engage in conversations with our colleagues, teams, departments, and employers about what policies are in place to protect and serve members of the LGBTQIA+ community who are seeking care as well as those who are providing care. Together we can help to make our places of healing to be open and equitable to everyone under the rainbow. 
 

May Newsletter

Stay up-to-date on the latest NYSANA news.

In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Sean McGarry recaps the recent Advocacy Day.

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CBS News Coverage of Advocacy Day 2023

Watch Advocacy Day New Coverage on CBS

NYSANA in New York Daily News

Rural Healthcare Op-Ed by NYSANA members

Thank you to Elyse Gallo, CRNA, Michael Thamsen, CRNA and Sean McGarry, CRNA, for submitting this opinion piece to the New York Daily News, discussing CRNAs practicing at the top of their license as a viable solution to New York's rural healthcare crisis. See Page 6.

Buffalo News Op Ed

Another Voice: Supervision of CRNAs is unnecessary and impedes care

Read President Sean McGarry's op-ed in the Buffalo News.

"Removing unnecessary supervision requirements increases access to care for all New Yorkers. This must be the priority. Right now, New York is the only state in the country that has not formally recognized the title and scope of practice of a CRNA. No more waiting! New York needs to come through for its CRNAs."

 

April Newsletter

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In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Sean McGarry celebrates the profession of CRNAs.

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January Presidential Newsletter

Stay up-to-date on the latest NYSANA news.

In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Sean McGarry celebrates the profession of CRNAs.

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February 2023 Newsletter

Stay up-to-date on the latest NYSANA news.

In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Sean McGarry discusses the legislative agenda 

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Spectrum News Coverage of Sim Day

Simulation day at the Capital was a great success! We were pleased that news coverage featured NYSANA President Sean McGarry and the testimony of patient Michael Boots. You can watch it here.

Our next meeting at the state capital will be Tuesday, May 9, 2023. This is NYSANA's annual Advocacy Day where we will meet with legislators and push for our legislation. We will show strength through our numbers! Please plan to represent the profession. Registration will close on Friday, April 7 to allow time for the GRC committee to set up meetings for you with your State Senators and Assemblymembers. We hope you will join us!!

 

November Presidential Newsletter

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In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Sean McGarry, reviews advocacy efforts for 2023.

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October Presidential Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest NYSANA news.

In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President Sean McGarry shares his thoughts as incoming president.

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AMC Residents win Goldie Brangman Award for 2022

Chris Erlichman, BSN, RN and Yanet Segura, BSN, RN receive the 2022 Goldie Brangman Award

Goldie Brangman, CRNA, MEd, MBA was an accomplished CRNA and exceptional mentor. Goldie served as the first and only African American President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and President of NYSANA from 1960 - 1961. She famously treated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., after a near-fatal assassination attempt in 1958.

Every year at the Annual Fall Meeting the Goldie Brangman Award winner is announced. This year, two nurse anesthesia residents were named for their outstanding research and demonstrated work.

Chris Erlichman, BSN, RN and Yanet Segura, BSN, RN (Albany Medical College of Nurse Anesthesia) were recognized for their presentation on Evaluating Analgesic and Pulmonary Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Fascial Plane Blocks as an Early Intervention in Multiple-Rib Fractures.

Read below to learn more about Chris and Yanet, their research and what it means to be named recipients.

Why is it important to be NYSANA members?

Yanet: Being NYSANA members can only solidify our induction into the profession that has provided anesthesia in the United States for over 150 years. As residents of New York State (the ONLY state remaining without a CRNA scope of practice bill), it is so imperative that we are part of this professional organization. As we fight for recognition, we aim to communicate how vital [CRNAs] are to patients and the country's healthcare system. We owe it to the future of nurse anesthesiology, a career we vigorously fought to join.  

Why does evaluating Analgesic and Pulmonary Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Fascial Plane Blocks as an Early Intervention in Multiple-Rib Fractures interest or excite you?

Chris: As Trauma ICU nurses, we saw patients with multiple-rib fractures that could have benefited tremendously from regional anesthesia and analgesia. Implementing the latest techniques to combat pain, especially in those with chest trauma, is crucial to improving patient outcomes. We firmly believe many patients go without these services because of a lack of familiarity among those taking care of them daily. There should be a more diligent push to include anesthesia experts’ input wherever there is a conversation about pain management. Thus, as highly trained and skillful anesthesia providers, CRNAs should step up to the call. 

As we currently complete our education to become nurse anesthetists, we strive to practice to the full extent of our training, including using regional anesthesia for pain management across a broad patient population. Acknowledging this early on in our new career allows us to advance the profession, open the door for more jobs, and, most importantly, improve access to care for our patients.

What does it mean to you both to be awarded this recognition?

Yanet: As minority students who are both first-generation college graduates, we have a unique appreciation for this award. Ms. Brangman made considerable contributions to our profession, and we only hope to one day fill a small portion of her shoes. Here's to her providing the foundation while we stand on the shoulders of giants and try to contribute our piece to the history of nurse anesthesia.

What do you hope to gain from being members of NYSANA?

Chris: As students, we experienced and interacted with members of national and state organizations and saw firsthand how vital it is to the advancement of CRNAs. NYSANA provides the infrastructure needed for nurse anesthetists in New York to unite and protect this profession. We hope that with our active membership, we can tackle the challenges we face on our home turf.

President's address, September 2022

Stay up to date on the latest NYSANA news.

In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Giovanna Mahar, recaps her year and welcomes new President Sean McGarry

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August Presidential Newsletter

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In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Giovanna Mahar, recaps the AANA Annual Congress and highlights upcoming NYSANA events you won't want to miss!

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July Presidential Newsletter

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In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Giovanna Mahar, reminds voting members to vote in the NYSANA Board of Directors 22-23 Election and review the proposed bylaws changes. More news on the upcoming Fall Educational Meeting is also highlighted! 

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June Presidential Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest NYSANA news.

In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Giovanna Mahar, updates the membership on legislative news and strategies, and introduces the NYSANA Fall Meeting! This newsletter was brought to you by Paramount Specialty Training.

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Meet your 2022 - 2023 NYSANA Board of Directors Candidates

We are pleased to announce the slate of candidates for the 2022 - 2023 Board of Directors! The candidates were announced at the NYSANA Business Meeting on May 1, 2022. Learn more about each candidate here. 

Electronic voting will open on Monday, July 11 at 9:00 AM and close at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, July 26.

May 2022 Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest NYSANA news.

In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Giovanna Mahar, updates the membership on NYS Congressional and Senate Lines, Nurses Week, DEI Taskforce & Wellness Events and more! 

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April 2022 Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest NYSANA news.

In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Giovanna Mahar, recaps the AANA Mid-Year Assembly, discusses implementation of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Taskforce, shares Spring Educational Meeting updates, and more! 

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March 2022 Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest NYSANA news.

In this month's newsletter, NYSANA President, Giovanna Mahar, discussed important updates and announcements such as Legislative News, results from the latest PAC Challenge, Spring Educational Meeting updates, and more! 

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