Exclusive anesthesia articles from LocumTenens.com
Is there an anesthesiologist in the OR?
Healthcare facilities around the nation are facing a critical shortage of
anesthesiologist. While some states have been hit harder than others, virtually
all facilities have had to deal with staffing issues within the anesthesia
specialty. According to a nationwide survey of senior hospital administrators
conducted by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), 47 percent of
hospitals reported a shutdown or reduction in OR hours due to the shortage of
anesthesia providers.
View the
complete article here. (LocumTenens.com, March 10, 2006)
Anesthesia articles of interest
Testing their theory: More patient safety means fewer lawsuits
One group of anesthesiologists shifted focus away from trying to protect
themselves from lawsuits and high medical liability premiums and concentrated
on improving patient safety. As a result, over the past two decades, patient
deaths due to anesthesia have declined to one death per 200,000 to 300,000
cases from one for every 5,000 cases, according to studies compiled by the
Institute of Medicine, an arm of the National Academies, a leading scientific
advisory body.
View
the complete article here. (“One group of doctors changes its ways”,
June 21, 2005, PostGazette.com)
“Military Anesthesiology: An Out-Of-The-Box Experience”
View
the complete article here. (March 2006 ASA Newsletter)
Survey Says … Benchmarking Your Group’s Clinical Productivity
The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) recently published a cost
survey of anesthesia practices conducted in collaboration with ASA. The
survey’s results are summarized in the Cost Survey for Anesthesia Practices:
2005
View
the complete article here. ( Report Based on 2004 Data. --by Amr E.
Abouleish, M.D., M.B.A., ASA April 2006 Newsletter)
Anesthesiology Practices: Margins are growing, staffing levels are dropping
According to the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) “Cost Survey for
Anesthesia Practices: 2005 Report Based on 2004 Data,” Anesthesia-only
practices are cutting costs and increasing their bottom line.
View
the complete article here. (Source: MGMA)
Hospitals turn to anesthesiologists to bolster the bottom line
Historically, anesthesiologists were seen as service providers to the
rainmakers of a hospital’s medical staff: the surgeons. But anesthesiologists
are emerging as operating room leaders who can bolster the bottom line - and
that is earning them new respect from hospital CEOs.
View
the complete article here. ( Source: HealthLeaders Magazine, May 30,
2006)
Anesthesiologists adopt waking guidelines
A national doctors' group has adopted new standards to help prevent patients
from awakening during surgery. But the American Society of Anesthesiologists,
meeting in Atlanta, stopped short of embracing the use of new devices that
monitor patient awareness.
View the complete article here. (AP/Yahoo!, Oct. 25,
2005)
Anesthesia practice CPR
Conference breathes new life into practice management issues
Negotiating a contract with your hospital? Need a stipend for undercompensated
services? Thinking of adding intensive care unit coverage and wondering if it
is feasible? ASA offered help with these crucial aspects of anesthesiology
practice and many more at its Conference on Practice Management on February
4-6, in San Francisco, California. 2005 President Eugene P. Sinclair, M.D.,
predicted that by 2030, Medicare would exceed 50 percent of the gross billings
of a typical anesthesiologist.
Shena Scott, M.B.A., and Genie Blough, M.B.A., presented data from a recent
Medical Group Management Association hospital contracting survey that indicate
stipends from hospitals to anesthesiology departments have increased both in
number and absolute value. Sixty-two percent of groups receive a stipend, and
as the percentage of government payers increases, so does the stipend. The mean
stipend for academic groups was $3.87 million, and for private groups, $1.51
million.
View
the complete article here. (ASA Newsletter)
Wall Street Journal examines
Anesthesiologists' efforts to reduce malpractice costs
The Wall Street Journal examined how malpractice insurance premiums for
anesthesiologists have decreased over the past 20 years because they have
"focused on improving patient safety" rather than legislation that would
"protect them against patient lawsuits." According to the American Society of
Anesthesiologists, anesthesiologists this year will have an average annual
malpractice insurance premium of $20,572, a 37% decrease from 1985 after
adjustment for inflation.
View
the complete article here. (Medical News Today)
AAs and CRNAs
Beating the anesthesia provider shortage
Could the 800 anesthesiologist assistants (AA) practicing in the United States
help ease the anesthesia shortage? Without question, say an increasing number
of anesthesia care team practices that have been recruiting this third category
of anesthesia provider to augment the dwindling supply of anesthesiologists and
nurse anesthetists. As you well know, today's surgical demand far outpaces the
more than 35,000 MD anesthesiologists and 30,000 CRNAs.
View the complete article here. (Outpatient Surgery
Magazine)
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