ASA is pleased to present the annual commercial conversion factor survey for 2021. Each summer anesthesiology practices are surveyed across the country. They are asked to report up to five of their largest managed care contract conversion factors and the percentage each contract represents of their commercial population, along with some demographic information. ASA’s objectives for the survey are to report to members the average contractual amounts for the top five contracts and to present a view of regional trends in commercial contracting.

Recent news reports describe high-profile “breakthrough” cases of COVID-19 in fully vaccinated individuals. In one prominent case, a fully vaccinated Australian socialite was infected and became a superspreader. Over a busy weekend in Los Angeles, he transmitted COVID-19 to approximately 60 people…. “To beat SARS-CoV-2, we must vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible and maintain effective public health measures.”

For both children and adults younger than age 45, traumatic injuries continue to be the leading cause of death in the United States. Given the major impact that trauma and acute care can subsequently have, in the late 2000s a number of dedicated and enthusiastic anesthesiologists felt that a dedicated platform was needed to facilitate much-needed support and growth for this emerging subspecialty.

Understanding when prospective memory will be required can help avert the next potential disaster. The next time you think to yourself, “I need to remember to complete this task in the future,” consider what might trigger you to do it and what will happen if you don’t.