Anesthesia

As hospitals have been in dire need of anesthesia staff over the last few years, the need for locum labor has continued to rise. 

Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine is phasing out common anesthesia gas desflurane, the most potent greenhouse gas found in hospitals, according to a May 7 report from The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

ASC leaders face a uniquely challenging landscape when it comes to anesthesia. Provider shortages are causing salary inflation, while at the same time, third-party payers are systemically cutting anesthesia reimbursements. 

The Texas Medical Association named Beaumont-based anesthesiologist G. Ray Callas, MD, as its 159th president. 

Here are three anesthesiologist lawsuits or license probations Becker's has reported on since April 15: 

The Medical Board of California has put anesthesiologist Anna Bowling, MD, on probation for seven years for practicing medicine while under the influence, ABC affiliate KXTV reported May 2. 

Nurse anesthetists make an average of $281,240 in Illinois, the highest-earning state, compared to the state's average household income of $106,728.

The anesthesia market has had a challenging last several years, as systems struggle to find qualified professionals in a competitive market. 

Here are five numbers to know regarding anesthesiologists in the U.S., using data from Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report" for 2024, its "Anesthesiologist Compensation Report" for 2023 and the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics employment survey:

Illinois and Massachusetts pay certified registered nurse anesthetists the highest hourly wage, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.