Tripler Army Medical Center’s team of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists is an integral part of the TAMC team, providing anesthesia to patients throughout the hospital.

The CRNA team will use Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Week, Jan. 21-27, as an opportunity to build strong relationships across the organization and to spread awareness of anesthetists.

TAMC’s CRNA team consists of 24 members, made up of 15 active duty and nine civilian providers.

“Our team is laser-focused in providing expert anesthesia services for our vast patient population 24 hours a day, seven days a week” Lt. Col. Thorbjorn Persson, chief anesthetist, said.

CRNAs have full practice authority in every branch of the military and are the primary providers of anesthesia care to U.S. Military personnel on front lines, navy ships, and aircraft evacuation teams around the world. CRNAs have participated in all conflicts as the sole anesthesia provider in far forward austere locations as well as part of a larger anesthesia team ranging from Combat Support Hospitals to Military Treatment Facilities around the world.

The CRNA team plans, organizes, administers, monitors, and performs general and regional anesthesia for elective and emergency surgical and obstetrical procedures for patients of all ages and states of health. Additionally, CRNAs are responsible for postoperative acute pain management. They serve as the airway management experts and respond to all hospital codes and emergency resuscitations.

CRNAs play a significant role in overall medical force readiness across the region, the U.S. Army, and joint Military service. CRNAs function as faculty for the U.S. Army Graduate Program in anesthesia nursing, instructing the next generation of nurse anesthetists. They also teach anesthesia principles – including airway management, pain management, sedation, and long-term care in austere environment settings – to medical students, residents, physician assistants, and combat and special operations medics.

“Our goals are to constantly strive for excellence by providing learning opportunities, continuing education, promoting innovation, and focus on evidenced based anesthesia guidelines” Persson said.

Tripler supports 264,000 active duty and retired military personnel, their families, and veteran beneficiaries. In addition, the referral population includes 171,000 military personnel, family members, veteran beneficiaries, residents of nine U.S. affiliated jurisdictions and forward-deployed forces in more than 40 countries throughout the Pacific.