News in brief - April 14, 2003

Anesthesiologists ask Colorado court to intervene - Survey says rural areas short on surgeons - Singers and musicians wanted for VA musical group

Anesthesiologists ask Colorado court to intervene

Colorado anesthesiologists have turned to the court to try to stop Colorado Gov. Bill Owens from allowing nurse anesthetists to give anesthesia without physician supervision. In late February, the Colorado Society of Anesthesiologists filed suit in the District Court, City and County of Denver, alleging the governor isn't following state law or federal Medicare rules.

Colorado hospital regulations require anesthesia be administered by an anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist under a doctor's supervision, CSA said in its lawsuit. Medicare rules, they say, allow a governor to opt out of the federal requirement for physician's supervision if, among other things, that is consistent with state law.

The lawsuit asks the court to find that the governor's exemption is inconsistent and contrary to current state laws that require doctor supervision of nurse anesthetists.

Survey says rural areas short on surgeons

A national survey of rural hospitals and clinics shows that one in six surgical positions was unfilled as of February, according to TimeLine Recruiting, a medical profession recruiting firm.

The survey found 41% of rural hospitals needed orthopedic surgeons, 26% had unfilled urology positions, 22% needed gynecologists, 13% were short on otolaryngologists and 11% needed neurosurgeons. Within internal medicine, 16% of rural facilities were seeking cardiologists and 13% were looking for gastroenterologists. General surgeons were needed at 22% of rural hospitals.

Rural medical executives said high medical liability insurance premiums, low Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements and aging medical technology were reasons they believed it was getting harder to recruit physicians.

Van Allen, TimeLine CEO, said, "What this trend does not reflect is the advancing average age of physicians in the United States, particularly in rural health care, that will result in a more rapid exodus of physicians ... as more and more doctors reach retirement age and consider leaving."

Singers and musicians wanted for VA musical group

The VA-National Medical Musical Group is seeking new members for its chorus and symphony orchestra.

Medical professionals from anywhere in the country who are singers and musicians may qualify, along with their families and friends. For more information, call (202) 797-0700, write VA-National Medical Musical Group, P.O. Box 7712, Gurnee, IL 60031, or visit the group's Web site (www.medicalmusical.com).