A statement released by Corewell Health reads in part: “West Michigan Anesthesia is terminating its contract with Corewell Health in September. Unfortunately, the group is not providing sufficient staffing. This has forced us to reschedule some surgeries.”
The release goes on to state Corewell is actively recruiting and hiring an anesthesia team while providing high quality care during the transition
In response, West Michigan Anesthesia released a statement reading:
“As the exclusive anesthesia group at the majority of Corewell Health sites for the last 40 years, our priority has always been to provide safe, high-quality anesthesia care to patients across West Michigan.”
The release goes on to note that during eight months of negotiations, WMA offered multiple contract proposals that Corewell Health declined and ceased negotiations.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists reports a nationwide shortage, calling it “an unfolding staffing crisis.”
The supply is not keeping up with increasing demand due to multiple factors such as an aging workforce, high burnout levels and an aging population requiring more medical procedures.
The percentage of facilities reporting an anesthesia staffing shortage increased from 35% in early 2020 before the pandemic to 78% in late 2022.
A Medicus Healthcare Solutions report estimates nearly 22% of anesthesia providers are projected to leave the workforce by 2037.
