Rising procedural demand, uneven clinician supply, and persistent challenges in training, retention, and geographic access are reshaping anesthesia care delivery. For healthcare leaders, understanding where these pressures are emerging and how the market is evolving is critical to protecting capacity, maintaining access, and planning for what comes next.
Explore the Data Behind the State of Anesthesia Care Delivery
Explore the Data Behind the State of Anesthesia Care Delivery
Anesthesia by the Numbers: A Snapshot of Today's Workforce
The Anesthesiologist Workforce:
There are more than 53,500 anesthesiologists in the United States; however, workforce projections indicate a growing gap in supply. According to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA), the U.S. could face a shortfall of 3,720 FTE anesthesiologists in 2026, a trend expected to continue in the years ahead. 
The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Workforce:
There are more than 70,700 CRNAs in the United States. While national supply is projected to remain relatively steady, metropolitan areas could face a shortage of 3,140 FTE CRNAs in 2026, with the gap expected to persist through 2031. 
The Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) Workforce:
As healthcare organizations evaluate ways to expand anesthesia capacity, CAAs represent another component of the available workforce in states where practice is authorized. Working under the direction of anesthesiologists, CAAs can help healthcare organizations support operating room coverage and respond to rising procedural demand. 
Although the profession continues to expand, state authorization shapes where CAAs can contribute to anesthesia staffing strategies. CAAs are currently authorized to practice in 22 states, Washington, D.C., and Guam, with practice requirements varying by state and jurisdiction.
Locum Tenens Anesthesia: A Look at the Interim Anesthesia Workforce
Out of the more than 124,200 anesthesia clinicians, including anesthesiologists and CRNAs, over 9,000 have worked locum tenens either alongside their permanent job or as a stand-alone career. 
As the number of anesthesiologists and CRNAs working locum tenens continues to grow, CAAs are beginning to establish a presence within the interim anesthesia workforce, with roughly 2% currently working locum tenens according to Medicus proprietary data.
Key Drivers: Factors Behind the Anesthesia Clinician Shortage
The Aging Population & Rising Surgical Demand: Increasing Pressure on Care Delivery
An aging population and a higher prevalence of chronic disease are driving more surgical volume, placing increased pressure on anesthesia services. 
As the population ages and surgical demand grows, pressure on an already strained anesthesia workforce could intensify across inpatient and outpatient settings, potentially affecting timely access to care.
Limited Training: Constraining Anesthesia Workforce Growth
The pipeline of new anesthesia clinicians remains insufficient to offset workforce attrition or keep pace with rising demand for anesthesia services, with limited training capacity continuing to constrain growth across both anesthesiologist and CRNA pathways.
Anesthesiologist Training Insights:
Interest in anesthesiology continues to exceed the number of available residency opportunities. Across categorical and advanced programs, more applicants sought anesthesiology training than the number of positions offered through the Match.
Despite a 16.3% increase in categorical, advanced, and reserved anesthesiology residency positions between 2022 and 2026, capacity has not kept pace with applicant demand.
CRNA Training Insights:
An average of 2,400 CRNAs graduate annually, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA). Yet the number of CRNAs entering the workforce each year remains insufficient to meet rising patient demand.
In 2025, the requirement for all new CRNAs to hold a doctoral degree took effect, extending the CRNA training timeline from roughly 28 months to 36-51 months. Analysts have noted this could delay new graduates' entry into the workforce and deter some prospective candidates from training.
Geographic Disparities: Widening Gaps in Anesthesia Access
Anesthesia workforce supply varies considerably across the United States, with different supply-demand patterns emerging across metropolitan and non-metropolitan markets.
Although CRNAs help offset anesthesiologist shortages, supervision requirements and state-level scope-of-practice restrictions can also affect how fully the available CRNA workforce is utilized.
Actionable Strategies: Overcoming the Anesthesia Clinician Shortage
Support Clinician Well-Being: Implement Retention & Recruitment Efforts
Anesthesiology ranked second among the top 10 physician specialties with the highest reported intent to leave their organization within two years, according to the most recent American Medical Association (AMA) National Physician Comparison Report.
With retention concerns growing among leaders, the day-to-day practice environment becomes increasingly important. Strategies that ease workload pressures and better support physicians can help reduce burnout and strengthen retention.
Adopt an Anesthesia Care Team (ACT) Model: Optimize Efficiency
An anesthesia care team (ACT) model can help organizations expand coverage by deploying anesthesiologists, CRNAs, and CAAs according to patient acuity, case complexity, and scope of practice. This approach extends the reach of available anesthesiologists while supporting anesthesia services across more operating rooms and procedural settings.
With the anesthesiologist shortfall projected to widen through 2031, ACT models can help organizations make more strategic use of the broader anesthesia workforce to expand coverage and support capacity.
Leverage Locum Tenens Anesthesia Providers: Bridging Workforce Gaps
As anesthesia workforce shortages persist, healthcare organizations are increasingly adopting more flexible staffing models to maintain access to care. As a result, locum tenens anesthesiologists, CRNAs, and CAAs have evolved from a temporary solution to a core workforce component.
The growing reliance on locum tenens is reflected in national recruitment trends. According to the 2025 Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR) Physician and Provider Recruitment Benchmarking Report, anesthesia was the top physician specialty
that used locum tenens.
Centralize Locum Tenens Management: Implement MedicusOne
Managing locum tenens staffing across multiple vendors, departments, and systems can create unnecessary complexity and limit visibility. MedicusOne brings staffing operations under one accountable model, helping organizations streamline coverage management, improve cost control, and support consistent access to quality clinicians.
Download our white paper for a comprehensive look at the state of anesthesia care delivery here.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Anesthesia Workforce
What Is Driving the Anesthesia Clinician Shortage?
The anesthesia clinician shortage is being shaped by several factors, including rising surgical and procedural demand, clinician attrition, limited training capacity, and uneven geographic distribution. Together, these pressures are affecting anesthesia coverage and access across many markets.
Is there a Shortage of Anesthesiologists in the United States?
The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects a shortage of 3,720 anesthesiologist FTEs in 2026, with the gap expected to widen to 8,140 FTEs by 2031.
Is there a CRNA Shortage in the United States?
CRNA supply varies by market. Metropolitan areas are projected to face a shortage of 3,140 CRNA FTEs in 2026, while non-metropolitan areas show a different supply-demand pattern.
How Does Geography Affect Anesthesia Access?
Anesthesia clinician availability varies significantly across states and between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. More than 80% of rural U.S. counties lack an anesthesiologist, while CRNAs account for a large share of anesthesia clinicians practicing in rural communities.
What Role Do CAAs Play in Anesthesia Care Delivery?
Certified anesthesiologist assistants can help expand anesthesia capacity in states where practice is authorized. CAAs work under the direction of anesthesiologists and are currently authorized to practice in 22 states, Washington, D.C., and Guam.
Can Anesthesia Care Team Models Help Address Staffing Challenges?
An anesthesia care team model can help organizations make more strategic use of anesthesiologists, CRNAs, and CAAs based on patient acuity, case complexity, and scope of practice. This model can support expanded coverage and greater procedural capacity.
What Strategies Can Healthcare Leaders Consider to Strengthen Anesthesia Coverage?
Healthcare leaders can leverage several approaches, including supporting clinician well-being, integrating AI into anesthesia workflows, adopting anesthesia care team models, using flexible staffing strategies, and strengthening long-term recruitment planning.
