From the Editor

Do I have your attention? Being triple - specialized in Anesthesiology, Acute Pain, and Intensive Care, I sometimes find myself thinking about patient problems in unique ways. For example, in October 2019 when a young patient in his 20s presented to the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit at UVA with Guillain Barre Syndrome, paralyzed and intubated on mechanical ventilation, in severe … [Read more...] about You’re Getting on My Nerves… But Isn’t That the Point?
Brooke Trainer, MD, FASA
Editor, VSA UPDATE Newsletter

Disagreements regarding medical management of patients between medical professionals will exist at every institution and in all types of situations. What is important, however, is the ability of each provider to feel comfortable in voicing those differing professional opinions. When the ability to communicate is limited or suppressed, patients can suffer. Medicine is not … [Read more...] about Promoting A Positive Safety Culture in Healthcare Organizations
By Brooke Trainer, MD, FASA
Editor, VSA Newsletter
VSA Secretary
CVHCS, Richmond, VA

Special thanks to contributions from Robert Trainer, DO; Allen Ha, PharmD; Mercy Orikogbo, RN; and Diane Ibanez, RN. The Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC cares for veterans with the most significant and life-threatening disease burden across the VHA system. Our VA in Richmond is one of only a few VA facilities across the nation that has a true dedicated Acute Pain Service … [Read more...] about Creation of an Acute Pain Service at the VA in Richmond, Virginia: Aims and Outcomes
By Brooke Albright-Trainer, MD, FASA
Acute Pain Physician, Anesthesiologist, and Intensivist
Central Virginia VA Health Care System
Richmond VA

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” —Verna Myers, diversity advocate. Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) in our political organization is especially important in order for our specialty of Anesthesiology to thrive. This past July 2020, the ASA Joint Committee Roundtable had a conversation on D&I where they discussed the need to f … [Read more...] about Mitigate Unconscious Bias to Increase Diversity & Inclusion in Our Specialty
By Brooke Trainer, MD, FASA
Editor, VSA UPDATE

It’s hard to see the forest for the trees. These are uncertain times we are facing and many of us are inundated with worry. We worry over whether we will fall ill, when we will see our family and friends again, when we will recoup lost income, whether we will have enough PPE, whether racial disparities will improve, and whether this strife and unrest in society will r … [Read more...] about Balancing Competing Goals: Protests during a pandemic
By Brooke Trainer, MD, FASA
VSA UPDATE Editor