Regional and Gender Differences and Trends in the Anesthesiologist Workforce.

BACKGROUND: Concerns have long existed about potential shortages in the anesthesiologist workforce. In addition, many changes have occurred in the economy, demographics, and the healthcare sector in the last few years, which may impact the workforce. The authors documented workforce trends by region of the United States and gender, trends that may have implications for the supply and demand of anesthesiologists. METHODS: The authors conducted a national survey of American Society of Anesthesiologists members (accounting for >80% of all practicing anesthesiologists in the United States) in 2007 and repeated it in 2013. The authors used logistic regression analysis and Seemingly Unrelated Regression to test across several indicators under an overarching hypothesis. RESULTS: Anesthesiologists in Western states had markedly different patterns of practice relative to anesthesiologists in other regions in 2007 and 2013, including differences in employer type, the composition of anesthesia teams, and the time spent on monitored anesthesia care. The number and proportion of female anesthesiologists in the workforce increased between 2007 and 2013, and females differed from males in employment arrangements, compensation, and work hours. CONCLUSIONS: Regional differences remained stable during this time period although the reasons for these differences are speculative. Similarly, how and whether the gender difference in work hours and shift to younger anesthesiologists during this period will impact workforce needs is uncertain.

Building the Future: Summary of Four Studies to Develop the Private Sector, Education, Health Care, and Data for Decisionmaking for the Kurdistan Region - Iraq (with Arabic-language version).

In 2010, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) asked the RAND Corporation to undertake four studies aimed at improving the economic and social development of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. RAND's work was intended to help the KRG expand access to high-quality education and health care, increase private-sector development and employment for the expanding labor force, and design a data-collection system to support high-priority policies. The studies were carried out over the year beginning February 2010. The RAND teams worked closely with the Ministries of Planning, Education, and Health to develop targeted solutions to the critical issues faced by the KRG. This article summarizes the health care study. It is intended to provide a high-level overview of the approaches, followed by the studies, key findings, and major recommendations.

An Analysis of the Labor Markets for Anesthesiology.

The roughly 40,000 anesthesiologists (ANs) and anesthesiology residents and 39,000 licensed certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and student CRNAs in the United States provide most anesthesiology services. Shortages in this critical area of health care can lead to problems in the provision of health services. The authors' surveys of ANs, CRNAs, and anesthesiology directors included questions about employer types, work hours, earnings, types of anesthesia provision, and technology adoption and preferences. They found a great deal of heterogeneity in work arrangements, clear urban/rural differences in the labor markets for anesthesiology, and even more-pronounced regional differences. In addition to the survey, demand-based and econometric analyses were conducted. The authors conclude that shortage of ANs and CRNAs is highly likely at the national level, with the survey approach providing hints of such a shortage and the economic analysis providing stronger confirmation. Finally, the authors examine the evolution of AN and CRNA labor markets up to 2020 under various scenarios.