How to Reduce Anesthesia Costs

To industry outsiders, it may seem like reducing anesthesia costs is simple. Experienced hospital administrators understand how quickly anesthesia costs can soar when not managed carefully and methodically. It takes a team of dedicated experts who are routinely assessing performance metrics, collections, staffing models, operating room utilization and a myriad of other factors to effectively control anesthesia costs. As a comprehensive provider of anesthesia practice management services since 2004, CCI Anesthesia intimately understands the nuances of anesthesia service costs and how to help hospitals and surgery centers reduce them.  

Step 1 – Implement an Efficient Staffing Model 

Significant savings can often be found by implementing a more efficient anesthesia staffing model. Our goal is to match an efficient operating room schedule with the anesthesia providers you need to keep surgery turnover rates low and surgeon satisfaction high. Additionally, focus should be placed on supporting surgical volume growth by implementing scalable staffing models that will meet your evolving needs. 

Step 2 – Assess Provider Compensation 

Clients of CCI Anesthesia are able to eliminate expensive locum tenens costs since we pay fair market value compensation to our permanent providers. In addition to keeping morale and retention high, fair market compensation attracts highly experienced and skilled providers who are drawn to stable, long-lasting positions. A reduction in anesthesia staff turnover rates almost always results in a noticeable cost savings on temporary staffing expenses.   

Step 3 – Partner with an Experienced Billing Team 

It is not uncommon for an anesthesia department to unknowingly leave money on the table. Partnering with an experienced billing team can dramatically improve anesthesia reimbursement. CCI Anesthesia’s billing team specializes in anesthesia coding which allows our clients to optimize their reimbursement potential by leveraging our billing, collections and accounts receivable procedures. After combining savings from optimizing the anesthesia staffing model with the additional revenue captured from better billing services, an anesthesia department can go from being a budget drain to a valuable asset. 

Step 4 – Focus on Relationships  

Surgeon satisfaction is integral to the success of any anesthesia department. Our goal is always to support surgeons and help increase their productivity. Surgeons who are bringing in highly complex cases often need special support from the anesthesia department, which is why leaders at CCI Anesthesia strive to regularly meet with surgeons and assess their evolving needs. We also schedule routine meetings with C-suite stakeholders to keep communication lines open and maintain an open-book policy. These efforts to build trust through service and transparency always pay off.

Step 5 – Routinely Reassess Staffing Models

Setting an anesthesia department up for success is one thing—keeping it successful is another! Anesthesia needs are constantly changing and evolving which is why it is critical for anesthesia department leaders to keep a close eye on staffing models. There should be an efficient block schedule for operating rooms to optimize utilization and an appropriate staffing model to match. A strategic mix of anesthesiologists and CRNAs scheduled ensures that the right provider types are working in the right anesthetic locations. These are extremely detailed aspects of running an efficient anesthesia department that can result in a significant reduction of anesthesia-related costs. The experts at CCI Anesthesia know how to staff an anesthesia department most efficiently to help support your bottom line. 

Is your anesthesia subsidy too high? For more information on how to reduce your anesthesia department costs, contact us today at 800.494.3948. Our specialists are ready to help transform your anesthesia department into one that best serves your patients, supports your surgeons and satisfies your stakeholders.