Due to new claiming requirements, all credits for live meetings now must be claimed in the calendar year in which the meeting took place. That means that your credits from ANESTHESIOLOGY 2017 must be claimed by midnight on Dec. 31, 2017.

This represents a significant departure from previous deadlines in which learners were given one year to claim credits from the date of his or her meeting. Please plan accordingly.

ASA understands that the new deadline could create problems for some individuals. But we must stress that ASA is bound by this policy and therefore must enforce it. It is conceivable that exceptions could be made in the case of extreme emergencies (for instance, natural disasters or death of a loved one), but ASA members are strongly encouraged to claim credits at their earliest convenience.

It’s also important to note that ASA’s offices will be closed from Dec. 23, 2017, to Jan. 1, 2018, with minimal staff available on call for urgent matters.

The staff of the ASA Education Department who assist members in claiming their credits genuinely and sincerely want every ASA member to receive their credits in the quickest and most efficient way possible. As such, ASA staff will be ready to assist you through the months of October, November and December with your claim process.

Reminders about the deadline change will be sent through various channels to the ASA membership over the next two months. Hopefully, the majority of those participating in ANESTHESIOLOGY 2017 will not need them!

Send questions and comments to educationcenter@asahq.org, and an ASA staff member will reply within 24 hours.