The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is a professional association of physicians in the field of anesthesiology.

In 1960, the ASA established an Executive Office in Park Ridge, Illinois to meet growing membership and patient-care demands.

[4] The ASA has lobbied the U.S. Congress to pass several pieces of legislation both directly requiring that physicians supervise nurse anesthetists who administer anesthesia and indirectly encouraging this practice.

degrees who are licensed practitioners and have successfully completed a training program in anesthesiology approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

Non-physician providers of anesthesia care (anesthesiologist assistants, nurse anesthetists, dentist, veterinarians, APRNs) can join as educational members.

[citation needed] Meetings are held annually and are based on scientific progress in the anesthesiology fields.|[13] The Society publishes multiple academic resources in the following categories:[14] ASA supports anesthesiologists and care team members with Standards, Practice Guidelines, Practice Advisories, Statements, Expert Consensus Documents, and Resources from ASA Committees.

Practice guidelines and advisories provide recommendations for patient care that are based on a systematic review of peer-reviewed published evidence.