ASCs that rely solely on anesthesiologists report better access to anesthesia services than centers using the more common care team model, according to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association’s third-quarter 2026 60-Second Survey, published Oct. 16.
Of facilities staffed only by anesthesiologists, 88% reported adequate access to providers. Among facilities where anesthesiologists supervise certified registered nurse anesthetists or certified anesthesiologist assistants, 72% reported adequate access.
The supervised care team model is the most common arrangement, used by 36.2% of respondents. CRNA-only staffing followed at 30.9%, then anesthesiologist-only staffing at 21.5%. Another 11.4% reported another arrangement.
Overall, 82% of respondents use contracted anesthesia services rather than employing providers in-house. That figure is unchanged from 2024 and down from 86% in 2023.