Survey: Anesthesia Most Commonly Outsourced Service

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.—An American Hospital Association survey revealed approximately 80 percent of hospitals outsource some form of patient services, with anesthesia topping the list. In fact, 47 percent of hospital administrators are reducing or redirecting operating room procedures due to anesthesia staffing issues.

Somnia Founder and CEO, Marc Koch, MD, said decentralization of surgery to office-based and ambulatory surgical facilities has created a peak in anesthesiologist and CRNA demand, while the limited supply of anesthesiologists and CRNAs is driving up the cost of coverage. The problem has most anesthesia departments leaning on hospitals for greater subsidies at a time when hospitals can least afford these financial pressures.

Koch said creating cost-effective and efficient staffing models, shrewd recruitment and maximizing payer contracting and revenue management are the real solution.