Protecting Financial Health

As medical doctors, anesthesiologists help your hospital control costs, generate revenue, and improve patient outcomes—effectively protecting your institution’s financial health and reputation. This impact is amplified by anesthesiologists’ involvement across medical departments.

Controlling Costs

Numerous studies have shown that the involvement and leadership of anesthesiologists help control medical costs because:

• Anesthesiologists’ expertise in screening and preparing patients for surgery reduces unnecessary testing, same-day surgery cancellations, and the risk of complications during and after surgery.
• In the absence of an anesthesiologist, additional consulting physicians may be called to provide services that would have been provided by an anesthesiologist—often delaying important steps in care, such as assessing preexisting conditions or handling emergencies or other medical issues before, during, and after medical procedures.

Nurse-only anesthesia care can lead to a higher number of hospitalizations after outpatient surgery. A 2012 study of more than 2 million patients receiving outpatient surgery found there was an 80% greater chance of their having “unexpected disposition” (including admission to the hospital) when anesthesia care was nurse-led instead of physician-led. These unexpected dispositions do not just represent poorer outcomes for patients; they also add hospital costs that can offset or exceed any “savings” from nurse-led care.

Learn more about anesthesiologists’ impact on costs.

Bolstering Revenue

Anesthesiologists are in a unique position to identify and evaluate operating room efficiencies—improving first case on-time starts, operating room turnover times, post-anesthesia care unit discharge times, and more.

Improving Outcomes

Anesthesiologists developed and continue to lead pathways for improving patient care and reducing costs, such as Perioperative Surgical Home and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery. These programs significantly reduce patient mortality and improve operating room efficiency.

We are in a position to drive value throughout the entire perioperative process, across a variety of surgical specialties, to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients at the most reasonable cost to the institution.

Steven Schulman, MD, MHA, FASA, Associate Medical Director

Talk to anesthesiologists at your hospital. Partner with them to improve your bottom line.

Start Controlling Costs

Contact us to get in touch with an anesthesiologist at your institution.