Ep 2: Mergers and Models (The Etherist, Season 2)

Anesthesiology is a specialty experiencing unique changes. On the one hand, there is debate over practice models and supervision rules. On the other hand, there is rapid consolidation of anesthesia practices across the United States. These two issues are in addition to the potential crisis of a physician anesthesiologist shortage in the coming years. The question that we seek to answer in this episode of “Anesthesiology News presents The Etherist” is whether these issues will lead to positive or negative outcomes for the specialty, and more specifically for the role of physician anesthesiologists. In episode 2, we ask how these large specialty-specific trends could shape the future of anesthesia care and the pending physician anesthesiologist shortage. 1. Association of American Medical Colleges. The complexities of physician supply and demand: projections from 2018 to 2033. aamc.org/system/files/2020-06/stratcomm-aamc-physician-workforce-projections-june-2020.pdf. June 2020. Accessed September 13, 2020. 2. Daly K. Consolidation in the anesthesiology services market continues with new partnership options. Anesthesiology News. anesthesiologynews.com/PRN-/Article/05-16/Consolidation-in-the-Anesthesiology-Services-Market-Continues-with-New-Partnership-Options/56101. October 23, 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. 3. Shekar AJ, M’Bodj A, Daly K. Consolidation in anesthesia. providenthp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Consolidation-in-Anesthesia-.pdf. March 2020. Accessed September 21, 2020. 4. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. CRNAs: we are the answer. aana.com/docs/default-source/marketing-aana-com-web-documents-(all)/crnas-we-are-the-answer.pdf. Accessed September 21, 2020. 5. American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants. Anesthesiologist assistants work states. anesthetist.org/assets/AAAA%20Work%20States%20Map%20June%202019.pdf. June 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. 6. American Society of Anesthesiologists. Statement on the anesthesia care team. asahq.org/standards-and-guidelines/statement-on-the-anesthesia-care-team. October 23, 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. 7. American Society of Anesthesiologists. Anesthesiologist assistants. asahq.org/advocacy-and-asapac/advocacy-topics/anesthesiologist-assistants. Accessed September 21, 2020.