Incoming ASA President Jeffrey Plagenhoef, M.D., is urging ANESTHESIOLOGY 2016 attendees to participate in a town hall-style session on Tuesday morning called “The Future of Anesthesia Care Team in the Era of Increased Competition.”

Medical executives from several national and regional practices will be on hand to describe and discuss their practice approaches in regard to the Anesthesia Care Team (ACT) model.

As pressures come to bear on anesthesia department leaders, those leaders are increasingly trying to think as out of the box and creatively as they can to improve the value of the care they deliver. Some companies, said Dr. Plagenhoef, are pushing in directions that are not consistent with the ACT as currently defined by ASA.

Along with several other medical executives, 2017 ASA President Jeffrey Plagenhoef, M.D., (left) and Past President (2013) John Zerwas, M.D., will address the changing definitions of the Anesthesia Care Team.

“I want to have an all-inclusive conversation with everybody,” he stated. “I want to give everybody a chance to explain what they’ve been trying, why they’re trying it, why they think it’s good and why it could help advance the specialty and secure the future.”

In this hour-and-a-half session, attendees will learn about the latest models of medical direction, supervision and oversight and engage each other on the pros and cons of each.

“We need as many people together in one room on this to help outline our strategy,” said Dr. Plagenhoef. “Should we try to redefine the Anesthesia Care Team? Should we change our recommendations on best practices? Should we double down on our existing definitions? The more questions we explore, the better our answer will be.”

Speakers include:

• Dr. Plagenhoef, Baylor Scott and White Healthcare, Waco, Texas
• John M. Zerwas, M.D., 2013 ASA President, Greater Houston Anesthesiology, Houston
• Brian P. Woods, M.D., Northstar Anesthesia PA, Arlington, Texas
• Jeffrey A. Weiss, D.O., TeamHealth Anesthesia, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
• Eric Mason, M.D., American Anesthesiology, Sunrise, Florida