[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 135 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING DR. JUAN QUINTANA, DNP, MHS, CRNA, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN 
                   ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETISTS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2016

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Juan 
Quintana, DNP, MHS, CRNA. Dr. Quintana will soon complete his year as 
national president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists 
(AANA) whose headquarters are located in my district. I am proud that 
Dr. Quintana was elected as 2015-2016 president, and I want to 
congratulate him on his year of leadership of this prestigious national 
organization.
  Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice 
registered nurses who administer approximately 43 million anesthetics 
to patients each year. They work in every setting where anesthesia is 
delivered, including the Veteran Health Administration, Department of 
Defense, hospital surgical suites, obstetrical delivery rooms, 
ambulatory surgical centers, and the offices of dentists, podiatrists, 
and specialty surgeons. They also provide acute and chronic pain 
management services to patients in need of such care. CRNAs provide 
anesthesia for all types of surgical cases and are the sole anesthesia 
providers in many rural hospitals.
  The president of Sleepy Anesthesia, an anesthesia practice founded in 
1999, Dr. Quintana has been practicing anesthesia since 1997. 
Graduating with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Texas 
Christian University in 2009, Dr. Quintana is a leader in the area of 
education and evaluation of cost-effectiveness and efficiency. A highly 
sought-after lecturer, he has been invited to speak at hospitals and 
numerous anesthesia meetings on the state and national levels about the 
business of anesthesia, cost effectiveness of best anesthesia practice 
models, cost effectiveness of anesthesia professionals, and anesthesia 
billing and compliance.
  In 2010, Dr. Quintana became the first CRNA to serve on the Medicare 
Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Council (MEDCAC), an 
independent body that provides the Medicare agency guidance and expert 
advice on the science and technology affecting healthcare delivery.
  Dr. Quintana, is also an educator, ex-officio faculty to the Texas 
Christian University (TCU) Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and 
adjunct faculty to TCU's Nurse Anesthesia Program, both in Fort Worth, 
Texas. Dr. Quintana resides in Winnsboro, Texas.
  During his AANA Presidency, Dr. Quintana has been a prominent 
advocate before federal agencies and with members of Congress for nurse 
anesthetists and the patients they serve so well. He has worked 
tirelessly to improve veterans' access to care through recognition of 
CRNAs and other advanced practice registered nurses as Full Practice 
Authority Providers in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), 
promote anesthesia patient safety and the value of CRNAs to our 
healthcare system, ensure proper implementation of the provider non-
discrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act, and obtain 
appropriate recognition of the full scope of CRNA practice including 
pain management and related services in the Medicare system.
  I extend my sincere congratulations to Dr. Quintana today on a job 
well done. His service to the AANA, our veterans, and patients is 
deeply appreciated, and his commitment to guaranteeing access to high 
quality health care nationwide is commendable. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in recognizing his notable career and outstanding achievements.

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