Big Trends, Opportunities in Pain Management and Outpatient Anesthesia

At the 20th Annual Spine, Orthopedic + Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference, attendees had the opportunity to dive into the cutting-edge strategies and tactics needed to build a successful and efficient pain management and outpatient anesthesia program.

This session featured a panel of today's leading experts in the field, discussing big trends and opportunities in pain management and outpatient anesthesia. 

The panel of experts included Timothy Lubenow, MD, Anesthesiologist at Rush SurgiCenter, Michael Bottros, MD, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Chief Clinical Operations and Medical Director for Pain Services at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, David Glatt, DO, Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at Long Island Jewish- Valley Stream and Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and Daryl Steven Henshaw, MD, MBA, Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. The session was moderated by Erica Carbajal, Editor of Becker's Healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

1. The anesthesia provider shortage is a global issue due to a lack of training spots and an aging workforce. Health systems are hiring RNAs instead of anesthesiologists.
2. Executive leadership should optimize OR schedules and payment models to mitigate the shortage. Outpatient pain management will see an increase in minimally invasive spine procedures and less injections due to Medicare constraints.
3. Anesthesiologists can mitigate opioid use by changing the culture around pain management and using a biopsychosocial model to treat pain. Minimally invasive procedures and extended release local anesthetics can also help manage pain.
4. Anesthesiologists and pain management specialists are working together for value-based care models and enhanced recovery after surgery protocols. Communication and accountability between disciplines is key.
5. ASCs must be prepared for the complexity of cases and patients pushed to their facilities. Following ERAS protocols is crucial, and measuring metrics, hiring new staff, and thinking outside the box with scheduling is important.
6. Panelists confirmed that it is in anesthesiologists and pain management specialists' scope to work together to optimize patient outcomes.