The anesthesia workforce is facing a serious shift. COVID-19 put intense pressure on anesthesia providers, leading to early retirements and ongoing staffing shortages. Now, hospitals and ASCs are struggling to adapt.
What’s happening?
🔹 More anesthesia providers are retiring.
- Many anesthesiologists were on the front lines during COVID, managing the most critical cases.
- Older providers, already near retirement, chose to leave the field earlier due to stress and burnout.
- Anesthesiology already has an older-than-average workforce, making the shortage even worse.
🔹 CRNAs are filling the gap, but that’s creating its own challenges.
- Nurse anesthetists are increasing in numbers, but this is shifting traditional care models.
- Some practices that were MD-only or medical direction models are now relying more on CRNAs.
- This change affects staffing, oversight, and compensation structures.
🔹 Salaries are rising fast.
- According to the 2023 MGMA salary survey, anesthesia provider pay has jumped significantly:
- CRNAs saw an 8% increase.
- Anesthesiologists saw a 7% increase.
- But this data is already outdated. Many providers report salaries are now even higher.
- Institutions that provide stipends and income guarantees are feeling the financial strain.
What this means for hospitals & ASCs
- Hospitals must rethink recruitment. Higher salaries mean institutions need stronger incentives to attract and retain providers.
- ASCs are now paying stipends. In the past, ASCs had better payer mixes, no call, and no weekends. That made anesthesia staffing easier. But with salaries rising, many ASCs now offer financial support just to keep their providers.
- Smaller groups may struggle. Independent anesthesia groups now compete with hospital-employed teams that offer better benefits and financial security.
The anesthesia landscape is shifting. The next few years will define how hospitals, ASCs, and anesthesia groups respond to these changes.
How is your organization dealing with anesthesia staffing challenges?
📖 Read the full whitepaper written by Daniel Reale here: https://bostonmds.com/WhitePaper