NorthStar Anesthesia has added 17 ASC partnerships nationwide so far in 2026, the Irving, Texas-based anesthesia provider said Oct. 23.
The 2026 partners include CarePlex Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Center in Norfolk, Va.; Stony Point Surgery Center and West Creek Surgery Center, both part of MedRVA Healthcare in Richmond, Va.; Eye Surgery Center of Homewood (Ala.); The Toledo (Ohio) Clinic ASC; and an orthopedic surgery center in Wisconsin.
NorthStar’s ASC model aims to reduce preventable cancellations and help centers make more use of their existing operating room capacity. The company uses ASC-specific pre-anesthesia testing guidelines and standardized clinical protocols to catch problems before the day of surgery. Problems found that late can cost surgeons operating time and leave capacity unused.
“The challenge for ASCs today isn’t simply finding anesthesia coverage. It’s ensuring that coverage translates into reliable surgical capacity,” said Cindy Myers, vice president of ASC operations at NorthStar.
Gajan Mahendran, MD, vice president of physician services, said a consistent preoperative assessment helps the company spot risks earlier and decide which patients belong in the ASC setting. “That means fewer last-minute surprises and a better experience for patients, surgeons and facilities,” Dr. Mahendran said.
Costs are also climbing. NorthStar CEO Adam Spiegel told Becker’s that about 80% of ASCs in the company’s network now require anesthesia stipends. Before the pandemic, that share was 10% to 15%.
NorthStar designs each center’s staffing around its case mix, surgical volume and operating needs. Ms. Myers said adding anesthesia resources won’t improve performance unless those resources match the center’s surgical volume.
NorthStar has more than 4,000 anesthesiologists and CRNAs serving more than 280 client sites in more than 20 states.
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.
