Why aren't the number of residency positions decreasing?

[AK_MD2BE]

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Forgive the ignorance (just an MS-2 here), but I really want to go into anesthesiology but am concerned about the future of the specialty. If people are worried about cRNAs, blah, blah, blah, (and therefore worried about there coming a day when the anesthesiologist has a difficult time finding a job...but I DO NOT want to get into a cRNA debate), then shouldn't the number of residency positions offered by decreasing? It makes no sense to me that the number of positions offered is increasing. Could "they" (whoever determines the number of residency positions available) ever decrease the number of residency positions available if there ever comes a time when there is a surplus of MD anesthesiologists? That seems like a simple way to decrease the number of MD anesthesiologists, and therefore, decrease the chances of the anesthesiologist being out of a job. Any educated, coherent thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. 🙂

 

[coprolalia]

There will not be a surplus of anesthesiologists for the forseeable future (at least until you are ready to retire). This has a lot to do with demographics and distribution, and (of course) some areas of the country have an ample supply of anesthesiologists already.

What is likely to happen is that there will be more and more CRNAs as schools training them have exploded. As long as we have enough anesthesiologists to provided supervisory care, there will not be a massive change from the current practice environment. In fact, with more CRNAs out there, the current high salary levels for them will drop and more will be willing or forced to work in the ACT model or they won't have a job. So, this benefits us all. Having worked with a wide variety of CRNAs, the minority I've met actually want independent practice and all the additional responsibility and legal exposure that comes with it.

-copro

 

[gasnewby]

Having worked with a wide variety of CRNAs, the minority I've met actually want independent practice and all the additional responsibility and legal exposure that comes with it.

And the ones that do...don't want the education and training to have independent practice, additional responsibility, and legal exposure that comes with it.

 

[VentdependenT]

Why do they need to? The number of operations is increasing.

 

[InductionAgent]

If people are worried about cRNAs, blah, blah, blah, (and therefore worried about there coming a day when the anesthesiologist has a difficult time finding a job...but I DO NOT want to get into a cRNA debate), then shouldn't the number of residency positions offered by decreasing? QUOTE]

When the number of anesthesiologists graduating reached its low point in the 90s, that greatly benefited CRNAs, because it increased the demand for anesthesia services, and CRNAs were there to meet the need. This resulted in a further shift away from MD-only anesthesia groups toward ACT models in more desirable areas, and toward unsupervised CRNA practice in less desirable areas. As Copro mentioned, graduating more anesthesiologists will help maintain anesthesiologists as leaders of ACT models and slow the spread of unsupervised CRNA practice. It will also help preserve physician-only groups.

 

[AK_MD2BE]

If there ever does become a surplus of anesthesiologists (MD's), could the number of residency positions at each program decrease (maybe a decrease in 1 or 2 residency positions/program) in order to offset the surplus? Thanks for the information/thoughts. 🙂

 

[numbmd]

The numbers are way off. As a specialty, we could dramatically increase numbers and still not train enough. Nationwide it certainly is not a surplus, but very much a shortage.

Isolated markets may be different, but here in the relatively saturated east coast, as a group we still have a hard time finding good help.