Anesthesia has become one of the most persistent staffing headaches for ASCs and hospitals alike.
It’s not just a bad labor market, but a pipeline problem stacked on top of an aging workforce, a bottlenecked training system and a reimbursement environment that’s making it harder to attract new anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists into the specialty.
Here are 10 numbers that show why the pipeline is buckling:
1. 6,300. The U.S. is projected to face a shortage of 6,300 anesthesiologists by 2036.
2. 12,500. CRNAs aren’t insulated from the crunch either. There is a projected shortage of roughly 12,500 CRNAs by 2033, nearly 22% of today’s workforce of about 65,700 to 67,700 nurse anesthetists.
3. 56.9%. Nearly 57% of practicing anesthesiologists are 55 or older, and more than 17% are nearing retirement, per the Medicus data. A workforce this close to retirement age means the shortage is set to accelerate just as demand from an aging surgical population climbs.
4. 44%. Roughly 44% of medical students seeking an anesthesiology residency didn’t match in the 2024 cycle, despite 1,695 positions being available across 178 programs.
5. 24%. The CRNA side of the pipeline has its own choke point: nurse anesthesia training programs accept only about 24% of applicants on average.
6. 40.6%. Even providers already in the field are eyeing the exits. An American Medical Association survey found 40.6% of anesthesiologists plan to leave their current role within two years, a retention problem that compounds the supply shortage rather than just reflecting it.
7. 56%. Burnout is widespread on both sides of the anesthesia care team: about 56% of CRNAs report feeling very or somewhat burned out, and roughly half of anesthesiologists report burnout or depression.
8. 78%. Rural facilities are feeling the strain most acutely. The share reporting CRNA staffing gaps jumped from 35% in 2020 to 78% by late 2022, per American Society of Anesthesiologists workforce research, and CRNAs deliver more than 80% of anesthesia care in rural counties, so those gaps hit access hard.
9. 44%. The share of ASCs expecting to pay anesthesia stipends to secure coverage jumped from 28% in 2024 to 44% in 2025, according to VMG Health data. Anesthesia coverage now ranks among the top three financial challenges cited by 67% of ASC leaders heading into 2026.
10. 5.5%. Reimbursement is moving the wrong direction at the same time costs are rising. Average anesthesia reimbursement fell 5.5% from 2019 to 2023, and the No Surprises Act has generated an estimated $5 billion in new costs since 2022, per Health Affairs data.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
