20 years ago in the AORN Journal

AORN Journal, March, 2007

The "Editorial" discusses a law passed in the 99th US Congress that allows Medicare reimbursement for qualified physician assistants working under the supervision of a physician. No provision was made for reimbursement of perioperative RN first assistants. * In a letter to the editor, a reader says she is amazed that increased salary and benefits are never mentioned as a possible solution for recruiting and retaining nurses.

* An article details use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for neonatal respiratory failure. * A news item reports that the American Society of Anesthesiologists has adopted minimum standards for monitoring patients under anesthesia. Study data indicated that as many as 2,000 anesthesia deaths could be prevented each year.