In the dynamic world of healthcare, the challenges and demands faced by medical institutions are ever evolving. As the Clinical Director of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Kimberly Cantees, MD, MBA, finds herself at the forefront of managing a critical issue - the shortage of anesthesia care providers. She recently shared her insights as a healthcare executive in Becker's Hospital Review.
Over the past year, healthcare systems across the US have been grappling with a notable scarcity of anesthesia care providers, and our UPMC Presbyterian Hospital site is no exception. This shortage was primarily attributed to the retirement and resignation of providers seeking more lucrative short-term opportunities. In this article, we delve into Dr. Cantees' insights and strategies as she works diligently to address this challenge.
UPMC Presbyterian, a quaternary care facility, operates 45 to 47 anesthetizing locations daily, catering to a wide array of surgical and medical needs. The shortage of anesthesia care providers posed a significant concern, potentially affecting the hospital's ability to maintain optimal patient care and surgical schedules.
To tackle this issue, Dr. Cantees and her team embarked on a comprehensive review of their current care models. They sought to identify opportunities to maximize the utilization of available providers. One of the strategies adopted was the consolidation of surgical schedules across UPMC's extensive healthcare system, which includes over 40 hospitals, with 16 of them located in Allegheny County. Regular communication among these facilities has been instrumental in reallocating anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists to areas experiencing higher surgical demand.
This proactive approach exemplifies the commitment of healthcare professionals like Dr. Cantees to ensure that patients receive the care they need, even in the face of workforce challenges. The collaboration between hospitals within the UPMC system allows for a more efficient distribution of anesthesia care providers, ensuring that patients can access vital surgical procedures without unnecessary delays.
However, the challenges posed by the shortage of anesthesia care providers are far from over. Dr. Cantees anticipates that this issue will persist well into 2024. Addressing this long-term challenge requires continued innovation, flexibility, and adaptability in healthcare delivery models.