The Case for an All CRNA Practice

CRNAs can help your clinic, department or health care practice keep expenses in check while offering top-level care. Using these highly-trained specialized nurses costs much less than using doctors to administer and monitor anesthesia.

A CRNA is an advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in administering anesthesia, taking care of patients under anesthesia and monitoring them while they are under and recovering from anesthesia.

Although nurses have been administering anesthesia since the Civil War, this nursing specialty certification was officially established in 1956, and today, roughly half of all medical professionals who administer anesthesia are CRNAs.

In addition to administering anesthesia, a CRNA’s duties include evaluating patients before anesthesia, monitoring them throughout the process, and helping them recover. CRNAs are also charged with keeping records about their patient interactions.

CRNAs may work independently or in tandem with an anesthesiologist. (Each state has its own set of rules and requirements for CRNAs practicing in that state.) The ability of CRNA to work independently can help your practice or department save considerably while still providing top-level care for your patients.

The Role and History of CRNAs

CRNAs have helped patients by administering anesthesia since the American Civil War era (mid-1860s)—the first training school for CRNAs opened in Portland, Oregon, in 1909. Today, more than 47,000 CRNAs are working in the United States, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

While each state is unique, the basic requirements for obtaining a certification as a CRNA include having at least two years of training as a registered nurse (RN), working in a clinical setting as an RN and completing a course of study in anesthesia nursing. Upon completion of the training program, the new CRNA candidate must pass their state’s board certification exam before they can be licensed to practice in that state.

Benefits of an All-CRNA Practice

There are many advantages to using CRNAs in your medical practice. These include:

• Improved access to care in rural areas. A recent study published in the September/October 2015 issues of “Nursing Economic$” found that CRNAs provide the majority of anesthesia care in the US counties with lower-income populations and populations that are more likely to be uninsured or unemployed.
  CRNAs help bridge the gap in underserved and low-income regions by delivering high-quality anesthesia care without compromising patient outcomes.
  
• Cost-effectiveness. While CRNAs are the best-paid nurse specialists, they are paid less than anesthesiologists. The average salary for a CRNA is $214,000, while the average salary for an anesthesiologist is $339,470. According to the 2016 Medical Group Management Association provider compensation report, the national median anesthesiologist compensation package was just over $450,000 annually versus $172,000 for a CRNA.
  
• Flexibility and Versatility. CRNAs can work part-time or full-time, depending on their needs. They work in hospitals, surgical centers and office-based healthcare practices.

Is a CRNA-Only Model Right for Your Facility?

Using CRNAs for your anesthesia needs works for several medical practices and clinics. For organizations with tight budget constraints and recruiting challenges, it allows the practice to get the staff they need for optimum patient care without committing to a permanent, full-time doctor. Compensation for a CRNA is less than half of that of an anesthesiologist. CRNA staffing is also much more adaptable and scalable than bringing another doctor on staff.

Find CRNAs with CCI Anesthesia

CCI Anesthesia’s experienced team of clinical and administrative technicians is dedicated to providing prompt and professional service to patients and healthcare organizations. We specialize in CRNA staffing; it’s not a sideline to us. We make finding the right people to staff your practice, hospital or clinic easy.

Are you interested in transitioning your facility to a CRNA-only anesthesia staffing model? For more information on your department’s most strategic mix of anesthesiologists and CRNAs, contact us today at 844.937.1810. Our practice management experts are eager to help you determine if a CRNA-only staffing model would help you achieve your goals.