Sometimes physicians request an early or late start time. Other times physicians want to add another case into their scheduling. Too often the answer is “no” because anesthesia cannot or will not accommodate. In nearly every case, this all-too-common frustration could be solved with a different approach to anesthesia.
So why is scheduling flexibility held hostage by anesthesia? The answer is simple – the prevailing models are not incentivized or able to provide it. The larger hospital-based groups are usually serving centers as a smaller side-business. The team member who covers the center is often on a day off from covering the hospital. This is not a scenario that motivates providers to accommodate change. Centers who recruit per diem providers and locum tenens on their own often hire people who have no flexibility to offer. The reason many choose this employment model is because they are juggling childcare or other responsibilities. They may not have accepted the work if they knew additional hours were required.
A modern approach to anesthesia means recruiting and managing a team that not just anticipates and covers new case volume but actually works with center leadership to help bring on more ORs, add operating hours, and improve case volume by improving efficiency.
- Document the center’s clinical, financial, and operational goals
- Understand the center’s culture, protocols, and current and anticipated scheduling needs
- Recruit candidates utilizing our database of thousands of anesthesia providers categorized by skill sets and scheduling preferences
- Train candidates based on center goals, culture, protocols, and anticipated needs
- Ongoing quality improvement reviews and discipline
- If you are not happy with a provider, we replace them