PEER ASSISTANCE
Ginger Hamilton SRNA and Barb Waldron CRNA presented "Addiction in the
Anesthesia Provider" at Altanta Medical Center on May 12th.
At the left is a picture of the Peer Assistance display used at the 2005 GANA Annual Fall Meeting at Stone Mountain. This year we added a Wellness Raffle and gave away patio plastic ware with a Tropical motif. We also sold coffee mugs with inspirational sayings printed on them.
The Peer Assistance Program is here to help CRNAs with drug and alcohol problems. The HOTLINE is (800) 654-5167. For those in recovery, please visit the following web site: health.groups.yahoo.com/group/airforsobriety/. Also, the AANA Peer Assistance Directory gives you information about peer assistance around the country. Please visit the AANA Peer Assistance Homepage for extensive information.
Feel free to contact your Georgia State Peer Advisors:
| Barb Waldron, CRNA Athens, GA 30606 phone: 706-227-0348 (home) phone: 706-207-2334 (cell) email: bawaldron826@earthlink.net |
Martha Kral, CRNA Savannah, GA 31410 phone: 912-897-3638 (home) phone: 912-660-0652 (cell) email: kralsml2@aol.com |
Lee G. Balos, CRNA Marietta, GA 30008-6811 phone: 404-580-6302 (work) phone: 404-580-6302 (cell) email: leebalos2@bellsouth.net |
PEER ADVISOR Opportunity
If you would like to become a PEER ADVISOR for the state of Georgia, this is your opportunity. You can contact Barb Waldron, Martha Kral, or the GANA Office.
PEER ASSISTANCE VIDEO
GANA has possession of an educational video. This video has been prepared by AANA to educate CRNAs about the disease of ADDICTION. It is a story about “one of our own.” If you would like to borrow this video to view or to present to your group, contact the GANA office at (770) 487-3900 or ganaoffice@bellsouth.net.
– Barb Waldron, State Peer Advisor.
Assessment Tools
A nurse anesthetist specific assessment tool is available at AANA. A similar tool can be viewed at www.realage.com.
More Information
- Georgia Nurses Association Nurse Advocate Program
- AANA Peer Assistance Advocacy
- For more information on treatment centers across the United States, click here.
Wellness Blue Ribbon Panel
The following is a list of individuals who make-up the Wellness Blue Ribbon Panel. This effort is the beginning of the second phase of the Wellness Program established by the AANA.
- Virginia Trotter Betts, MSN, JD, RN, FAAN
Ms. Betts is a nationally recognized leader in health and mental health policy and currently serves as the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities and as a member of the Cabinet of Governor Phil Bresden. - Tony Devencenzi, MFT, CEAP
Mr. Devencenzi is a nationally recognized expert in the healthcare employee assistance program field. He currently serves as National Program Director for the Kaiser Permanente Employee and Physician Assistance Program. He has experience in assessment and fitness for duty evaluations. - Jan Fawcett, MD
Dr. Fawcett is currently Professor of Psychiatry at the University at the New Mexico School of Medicine. He has pursued a career of research in the treatment of affective disorders and the prevention of suicide. - Michael F. Roizen, MD
Dr. Roizen is the founder and chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of RealAge, Inc., a San Diego-based company, which includes an interactive website located at www.realage.com. He practices anesthesiology and internal medicine and uses RealAge metric to motivate his patients. - Margie Gale, RN, MSN
Ms. Gale is recognized as a longstanding proponent of nurse wellness efforts. She is a mental health clinical nurse specialist and currently practices as a Nurse Wellness Specialist. - Penny Ziegler, MD, FASAM
Dr. Ziegler is the Medical Director of Williamsburg and The William J. Farley Center in addictive disease in healthcare professionals, and special needs of women with addiction. She is certified in addiction psychiatry, and fully understands the stressors effecting nurse anesthetists.


