Professional Staffing Practice of Academic Anesthesia Departments in the United States

Background: Academic anesthesia departments are under increasing financial pressure. Many struggle to integrate the priorities of their academic and clinical missions. Previous studies have documented increasing need for monetary institutional support of academic anesthesia departments. In view of current economic and legislative circumstances, it is arguable that the need for support will grow. This survey demonstrates that staffing issues, which are most likely engendered by financial circumstances, have impacted academic anesthesia departments in the United States to the point of having deleterious effects upon clinical safety and resident education. Methods: After IRB approval, we electronically solicited the anonymous response to a 23 question survey from all 133 chairpersons of academic anesthesia departments in the United States. Results: Sixty-two responded electronically, for an overall response rate of 46.6%. Conclusion: The results of this survey suggest that academic anesthesia departments are being financially stressed to the point that education and patient care are affected.