The shortage of anesthesia providers is affecting healthcare organizations nationwide. Here's what's being done about it.
In terms of keeping providers around, stipends are used as a way for ASCs to retain anesthesia providers as the shortage continues.
"We are seeing more and more ASCs needing to offer stipends while still needing to maintain a healthy bottom line," Ashley Hilliard, MSN, RN, administrator of Morris, Ill.-based Deerpath Ambulatory Surgery Center, told Becker's. "The shortage of anesthesia providers coupled with the demand for higher wages is something to keep an eye on, especially in the smaller ASCs."
Other ASCs have taken to employing their own anesthesia groups to keep up with cases.
"One of the biggest things is if you're in the ASC world and you're doing cases, you can't turn your attention away from the anesthesia crisis we're facing," Andrew Lovewell, CEO of Columbia (Mo.) Orthopaedic Group, told Becker's. "We did a pivot here internally where we've actually taken the stance of employing our own anesthesia group that used to provide services for us."
Anesthesia groups are also looking to mitigate the effects of the provider shortage.
Richard Dutton, MD, anesthesiologist and chief quality officer for U.S. Anesthesia Partners, told Becker's, "We are continuously investing in recruiting and retention efforts. I'm most proud of our work establishing anesthesia residencies in four of our cities and are exploring expedited pathways to bring non-U.S. anesthesiologists into practice here."
Two universities are launching new nurse anesthesia programs this year: Athens-based Ohio University, in collaboration with Columbus-based OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, and Henderson, Nev.-based Roseman University of Health Sciences' college of nursing.
Roseman University of Health Sciences said in a news release that the goal of the program is to address the national demand for certified registered nurse anesthetists.