Becker's Healthcare December 9, 2025
With anesthesia shortages dragging on and outpatient cases getting more complex, SCA Health, Optum’s ASC division, is thinking long-term in regards to how anesthesia is staffed and delivered.
Leaders told Becker’s the answer isn’t a short-term patch. Instead, SCA is leaning into top-of-license practice, closer clinical alignment with anesthesia teams and tighter operational management driven by data.
Stephanie Perna, regional vice president of operations for Kentucky, said SCA expects the shift toward top-of-license work to continue across anesthesia roles.
At Owensboro Surgery Center, that approach is already taking shape. The ASC’s CEO Marti Gaw told Becker’s the center moved from an anesthesiologist-supervised model to a CRNA-only structure. The transition was planned in advance to avoid disrupting care and to strengthen...
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