Outpatient fertility clinics face rising challenges as anesthesia staffing gaps widen
Anesthesia Shortages Hit Fertility Clinics First
Outpatient fertility centers are emerging as the front lines of a looming anesthesia workforce crisis. With over 17% of anesthesia providers nearing retirement and more than half already aged 55 or older, fertility clinics report increasing difficulty securing consistent anesthesia coverage for time-sensitive procedures such as egg retrievals and TESEs. .
Traditional anesthesia groups prioritize larger hospital contracts, often leaving ambulatory surgical centers—particularly fertility practices—with unpredictable and last-minute gaps in anesthesia services. Clinics are frequently forced to reallocate staff, move cases, or have inadequate sedation when coverage falls through, increasing stress on operations and impacting patient care.
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Fertility doctors from across the country are getting support from this one anesthesia firm.
Fertility doctors across the US are using Kaleidoscope Anesthesia
Kaleidoscope Anesthesia’s CRNAs are known for clinical excellence, their calm bedside manner, and enhancing patient care experience. .
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Scalable, agile staffing, from daily coverage to full perioperative system design.
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We’ll show you how other fertility centers are improving patient experience, reducing doctor and staff burnout, reducing cancelations, and improving workflow.
2,872 Providers Left the Workforce in a Single Year
The labor pool for anesthesia services is shrinking rapidly. Between 2021 and 2022, more than 2,800 anesthesiologists exited the workforce, according to data cited from a 2024 Medscape survey. Burnout is a key driver: over 50% of anesthesiologists report feeling burnt out or both burnt out and depressed.
At the same time, there are not enough new providers entering the field to offset the losses. Limited residency and CRNA program capacity further constrain the pipeline. Larger hospital systems and academic institutions, with greater financial bandwidth, are better positioned to retain talent—leaving outpatient centers to compete for an increasingly limited pool.
6,300 Anesthesiologist Shortage Projected by 2036
The Health Resources and Services Administration projects a shortfall of up to 6,300 anesthesiologists by 2036. A 2023 white paper from Medicus Healthcare Solutions estimates that nearly 30% of anesthesiologists will leave the field by 2033. Demand for surgical services is also expected to rise 2–3% annually over the next decade.
For fertility clinics operating on tightly sequenced cycles, even small gaps in anesthesia coverage can result in cancelled procedures or delayed care. Clinics report challenges coordinating preoperative clearance and maintaining patient satisfaction when anesthesia staff rotates frequently or lacks experience in reproductive health settings.
Crisis Expected to Worsen, >50% of Anesthesiologists Within 10 Years of Retirement Age
More than half of anesthesia providers are within a decade of retirement age. Without hospital affiliations or volume-based contract leverage, fertility clinics are particularly exposed to staffing shortages. Providers unfamiliar with the fast-paced, emotionally sensitive nature of fertility care can compound the problem, increasing the likelihood of patient complaints and operational disruptions.
Many clinics attempt to switch to whichever anesthesia group is immediately available, but this short-term strategy often results in a revolving door of inconsistent service. In this high-demand environment, traditional staffing models are proving unsustainable for specialty practices with unique scheduling and patient care requirements.
Fertility Clinics Turn to Agile Provider Networks to Stabilize Volatility in Coverage
To address these gaps, groups like Kaleidoscope Anesthesia have developed a national network model focused specifically on outpatient fertility care. By decoupling from hospital-based staffing structures and aligning provider specialization with the needs of reproductive clinics, they aim to offer consistent coverage and mitigate the volatility many clinics face.
These networks are designed to be more responsive to the scheduling, staffing, and patient communication challenges unique to fertility environments. Rather than competing for the same hospital-focused talent pool, they recruit and retain anesthesia providers with a demonstrated passion in women’s reproductive health—allowing clinics to maintain continuity and quality of care amid broader workforce disruption.
Improve Patient Experience. Reduce Doctor Burnout.
See Why Other Fertility Doctors Love These CRNAs
Fertility doctors from across the country are getting support from this one anesthesia firm.
Fertility doctors across the US are using Kaleidoscope Anesthesia
Kaleidoscope Anesthesia’s CRNAs are known for clinical excellence, their calm bedside manner, and enhancing patient care experience. .
Avoid burnout by offloading this responsibility to professionals you trust.
Scalable, agile staffing, from daily coverage to full perioperative system design.
200+ seasoned CRNAs. Nationwide reach. Fast onboarding.
We’ll show you how other fertility centers are improving patient experience, reducing doctor and staff burnout, reducing cancelations, and improving workflow.