The anesthesia industry is at a breaking point.

This perspective builds on a recently published position paper by Robert M. Johnson, RCPT, MBA, Senior Vice President of Anesthesia Operations at Medaxion, which examines the growing workforce and financial pressures facing the specialty—and makes the case for a national framework of objective benchmarks.

This blog summarizes the key insights from that paper and explores what they mean for hospitals, anesthesia groups, and the future of care delivery.

A Growing Gap Between Supply and Demand

The demand for anesthesia services continues to rise at a rapid pace. An aging population, increasing procedural volume, and the expansion of care into non-operating room settings are all contributing factors. In fact, non-operating room anesthesia (NORA) is on track to account for more than half of all anesthesia cases.

At the same time, the supply of providers is shrinking. A significant portion of the workforce is nearing retirement age, and many clinicians exited the field earlier than expected following the COVID-19 pandemic. The result is a widening gap that health systems are struggling to fill.

The Rising Cost of Coverage

As shortages intensify, so do the costs.

Hospitals are being forced to increase financial support for anesthesia services at unprecedented levels. What was once a modest subsidy has, in many cases, grown into a multi-million-dollar annual investment. The use of locum tenens providers and short-term staffing solutions has only added to the financial pressure.

Yet despite these rising costs, many organizations still face gaps in coverage—leading to delayed procedures, underutilized operating rooms, and reduced access to care.

The Benchmarking Problem

Perhaps the most overlooked challenge in this crisis is the absence of standardized benchmarks.

Today, hospitals and anesthesia groups are often negotiating in the dark. What constitutes fair compensation? How should staffing models be structured? What level of financial support is appropriate?

Without reliable, industry-wide data, decisions are frequently based on anecdotal information or limited local insight. This lack of transparency creates friction between stakeholders and makes it difficult to reach sustainable, long-term solutions.

A Fragmented Approach Isn’t Sustainable

The consequences of this fragmented approach are already being felt across the industry:

  • Increased tension between hospitals and anesthesia providers
  • Greater reliance on costly, temporary staffing models
  • Disruptions in surgical schedules and patient care
  • Ongoing uncertainty in contract negotiations

Left unaddressed, these challenges will only continue to escalate.

A Path Forward: Data-Driven Alignment

Solving the anesthesia workforce crisis will require more than incremental changes. It demands a shift toward greater alignment—and that starts with data.

Establishing clear, consistent benchmarks for compensation, staffing, and financial support can provide a foundation for more productive conversations. With shared insights, organizations can move beyond assumptions and toward informed decision-making.

A more transparent, data-driven approach won’t eliminate the workforce shortage overnight. But it will create the clarity needed to navigate it more effectively.

Conclusion

The anesthesia workforce crisis is real—and it’s reshaping the healthcare landscape.

But within this challenge lies an opportunity. By embracing standardized benchmarks and leveraging shared data, the industry can move toward more sustainable solutions that benefit providers, hospitals, and patients alike.

The question is no longer whether change is needed. It’s whether the industry is ready to align around it.

Read the full article here: https://www.coronishealth.com/blog/anesthesia-workforce-crisis-benchmarks