Amended in Assembly February 1, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent ResolutionNo. 119


Introduced by Assembly Member Chiu

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Atkins, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O’Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, and Wood)

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January 15, 2016


Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 119—Relative to Physician Anesthesiologist Week.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 119, as amended, Chiu. Physician Anesthesiologist Week.

This measure would designate the week of January 31, 2016, to February 6, 2016, inclusive, as Physician Anesthesiologist Week.

Fiscal committee: no.

P1    1WHEREAS, Annually in the United States, more than 100
2million operations and procedures are performed with anesthesia,
3and physician anesthesiologists play a critical role in a patient’s
P1    1well-being before, during, and after surgical procedures and make
2patient safety their top priority; and

3WHEREAS, Physician anesthesiologists have the highest levels
4of training and must complete between 12,000 and 16,000 hours
5of training prior to practicing independently; and

6WHEREAS, Physician anesthesiologists have been leaders in
7patient safety and cited as the only medical specialty to have
8significantly improved patient safety; and

9WHEREAS, A physician anesthesiologist’s duties include
10evaluating a patient’s current health prior to receiving anesthesia
11to ensure the best outcome, administering anesthesia, monitoring
12the patient during surgery, and assessing the patient after the
13procedure is completed; and

14WHEREAS, This spectrum of patient care constitutes the
15perioperative surgical home, which the American Society of
16Anesthesiologists has identified as an innovative model in patient
17care where the physician anesthesiologist directs the anesthesia
18care team to provide support to the patient throughout all aspects
19of surgical care and procedures; and

20WHEREAS, There is up to a 20-percent reduction in adverse
21events when physician anesthesiologists lead the anesthesia care
22team; and

23WHEREAS, The American Medical Association completed a
24public opinion survey that concluded 70 percent of patients want
25a physician to administer and monitor anesthesia levels; and

26WHEREAS, Anesthesia is safer than ever before, yet there
27remains potential for complications and side effects during
28procedures, and physician anesthesiologists have the training and
29expertise to help minimize these risks, monitor for any problems,
30and take quick action; and

31WHEREAS, During surgeries or procedures, when seconds
32count, physician anesthesiologists have the highest degree of
33training to respond to emergencies and ensure the best patient
34outcomes; and

35WHEREAS, The California Society of Anesthesiologists is a
36physician organization with over 3,000 members dedicated to
37promoting the highest standards of the profession of
38anesthesiology, fostering excellence through continuing medical
39education, and serving as an advocate for anesthesiologists and
40their patients; now, therefore, be it

P3    1Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
2thereof concurring,
That the Legislature hereby designates the
3week of January 31, 2016, to February 6, 2016, inclusive, as
4Physician Anesthesiologist Week; and be it further

5Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
6of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.



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