Anesthesia

In early April, CMS temporarily waived physician supervision requirements for certified registered nurse anesthetists due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Anesthesia Business Consultants President and CEO Tony Mira.

Seattle Children's Hospital's Bellevue (Wash.) Clinic and Surgery Center opened an opioid-free surgery center that uses artificial intelligence-based technology, HIT Consultant reports.

Norwood, Ohio-based Seven Hills Anesthesia is supporting local hospitals and practices as they reopen for elective cases, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier.

Six COVID-19 updates for anesthesia practices from Anesthesia Business Consultants:

ASCs should prepare for drug shortages and expect lower volumes when resuming elective procedures, according to joint guidance from the California Society of Anesthesiologists and the California Ambulatory Surgery Association.

Olympic Anesthesia in Bremerton, Wash., was devastated by the suspension of elective procedures, The Seattle Times reports.

The White House has paved the way for elective procedures to resume, and many states are beginning to relax related bans.

Nonessential procedure restrictions due to COVID-19 are wreaking havoc on finances for many medical practices.

Greenfield, Wis.-based Advanced Pain Management laid off most employees across its 25 locations and could face permanent closure because of orders to suspend elective procedures, Milwaukee Business Journal reports.

Anesthesiologists in Utah make less on average than anesthesiologists in other states, according to updated Bureau of Labor Statistics data published by Forbes.