Burnout, pay cuts and workforce shortages are driving anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists out of the field, worsening staffing shortages and straining surgery access nationwide. More than 40% of anesthesia professionals are considering leaving their current roles within two years, according to a report from the American Medical Association.
Here are the key factors fueling the anesthesia workforce crisis:
1. Burnout at the highest levels
Anesthesiology leads all physician specialties in burnout, with 40.6% of anesthesiologists planning to leave their current roles within the next two years. The specialty’s 2024 burnout rate was 50%, driven by long hours, limited autonomy and administrative burdens such as prior authorizations.
2. Aging workforce and looming retirements
More than half of anesthesiologists are 55 and older, and nearly 30% are projected to leave the practice by 2033, creating a potential shortfall of 12,500 providers. Training capacity is not keeping pace: Fewer than 2,000 new residency spots are available annually to replenish the workforce.
3. Reimbursement pressures
Commercial and government pay cuts are squeezing anesthesia providers. UnitedHealthcare will reduce independently practicing CRNA reimbursement by 15% starting Oct. 1, lowering QZ-modifier claims to 85% of the allowable, a move the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology says could harm access and further destabilize the workforce.
“This action is unlawful, unacceptable and unconscionable, particularly as our nation continues to face a shortage of anesthesia providers,” AANA President Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, said in a July statement shared with Becker’s.
4. Growing demand and staffing gaps
Providers are sounding the alarm on the anesthesia workforce shortage, warning it could reshape practice models.
“This shortage is driving a shift in practice models, particularly in states requiring supervision, where anesthesiologist assistants are unable to practice independently,” Jeff Tieder, MSN, CRNA, told Becker’s in February. “The key question is, how will anesthesia care teams adapt when there aren’t enough physician anesthesiologists to supervise?”
In its National Anesthesia Workforce report, the American Society of Anesthesiologists outlined possible responses, including expanding residency programs, revising policies to allow more overseas clinicians, and utilizing physicians from other specialties as “sedationists.”
5. Threats to access and patient care
CRNAs provide more than 80% of anesthesia in rural counties, making them essential to small hospitals. Workforce shortages could lead to delays, canceled procedures and reduced access in underserved areas.
Shortages also threaten to erode leadership and training pipelines, with fewer anesthesiologists available to mentor residents or lead research.
