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December 18, 2024

What Does Sustainability Look Like in Anesthesia Services?

December 18, 2024

Sustainability is no longer a concept limited to environmental initiatives—it has become a significant focus for global health practices, including anesthesia services. 

As one of the most resource-intensive areas in medicine, anesthesia departments face growing pressure to address environmental sustainability while optimizing patient care and financial performance. 

However, sustainability encompasses more than eco-conscious initiatives like reducing waste. It also involves operational efficiencies, adopting best practices to support positive patient outcomes, and confirming long-term financial viability. 

Whether you're leading a private practice or part of a hospital-based group, embracing anesthesia sustainability can position your organization for success. As we enter the new year, now is the time to consider how your team can make empowering changes. 

In this blog, the MBM team explores what sustainability means for anesthesia services, including practical strategies and industry insights to help your medical practice succeed. We’ll start by looking at environmental elements, then transition into operational and financial initiatives. 

Together, we can contribute to a healthier future for patients, providers, and the planet.

Pillars of Sustainability in Anesthesia

1. Environmental Sustainability

Anesthesia services are responsible for a significant amount of medical waste and potent greenhouse gas emissions, particularly through inhaled anesthetics like desflurane and nitrous oxide. These agents, while effective in clinical practice, contribute disproportionately to environmental degradation due to their high global warming potential. 

Additionally, improper disposal of single-use medical supplies and overuse of certain anesthetic agents amplify the climate impact of anesthesia services. To address these challenges, anesthesia practices can implement targeted strategies that balance environmental sustainability with high-quality patient care. For instance, providers can: 

Choose Low-Impact Agents

One of the clearest changes medical practices can make is switching anesthetic agents. Agents like sevoflurane and isoflurane produce significantly fewer emissions compared to desflurane, which has the highest global warming potential of all inhaled anesthetics (American Society of Anesthesiologists). 

Of course, anesthesia safety and clinical effectiveness are paramount, and practices should always use the agents they deem most suitable for their needs. Still, studies have shown that these low-impact agents provide comparable outcomes in many surgical cases, making them a viable alternative (Association of periOperative Registered Nurses).

Optimize Fresh Gas Flow

Reducing fresh gas flow is another simple yet effective way to work toward environmentally sustainable anesthesia. High fresh gas flow rates are often unnecessary and can lead to excessive use of anesthetic agents, which increases both costs and sustainability issues. 

Implementing low-flow anesthesia techniques can significantly reduce the volume of volatile anesthetics released into the atmosphere. Additionally, properly trained staff members are less likely to waste anesthetic gases without compromising patient safety. 

To better control anesthetic gas flow, many practices are also adopting monitoring systems that provide real-time data on usage. This information helps maintain appropriate flow rates during procedures and cuts down on superfluous waste. 

Recycling Initiatives

Recycling within anesthesia services is an excellent choice, but it often requires creative problem-solving due to the specialized nature of medical waste. 

Materials such as drug packaging, syringes, and certain types of single-use medical supplies may be recycled through partnerships with specialized waste management providers. Establishing a structured recycling program helps divert materials from landfills and reduces the environmental burden of anesthesia practices.

Beyond recycling, many medical practices have started reprocessing single-use devices through certified companies. These organizations sterilize and refurbish devices, making them safe for repeated use. 

Such programs contribute to environmental sustainability but can also help healthcare professionals save money.

2. Operational Efficiency

A truly environmentally sustainable anesthesia practice operates efficiently, cutting down on waste (and unnecessary costs) while improving patient outcomes. Outside of environmental factors, here are some of the steps providers can take to help their operations flow smoothly: 

Improved Scheduling

Efficiently booking operating rooms can help medical practices use their resources carefully while reducing unnecessary downtime. Conversely, poor scheduling can lead to inefficiencies, such as idle operating rooms or overworked staff, which drive up costs and increase stress within the team. 

That’s why many modern anesthesiologists use contemporary scheduling software to help balance workloads and improve operational flow. Others have careful systems for collaborating with surgical staff, including regular communication methods and meetings. 

Ultimately, the goal is to make sure cases are scheduled in ways that maximize resource use while keeping patients safe. When schedules are aligned, delays, overtime, and waste can be avoided. 

Investing in Staff Training

A well-trained staff is a core component of any sustainable anesthesia practice. Ongoing education on new techniques, equipment, and environmental initiatives can help ensure team members are equipped to deliver high-quality care while minimizing waste. 

Data-Driven Decisions

Data analytics help healthcare providers identify inefficiencies and eradicate their most wasteful anesthesia practices. Performance metrics, such as case times, recovery rates, and anesthetic usage, can highlight areas for improvement and provide actionable insights for your team.

When anesthesia providers know where they’re wasting time, resources, and money, they’re better able to implement strategies that boost their clinical and operational performance. 

3. Financial Sustainability

The financial health of an anesthesia practice is just as critical as environmental efforts. Sustainability in a monetary context means adopting systems that prevent revenue loss, improve cash flow, and streamline billing processes.

Let’s take a look at these goals in real-life scenarios: 

Optimized Revenue Cycle Management

Revenue cycle management (RCM) is the backbone of financial sustainability for medical practices. They need to confirm accurate coding, timely billing, and efficient claims processing to reduce delays while maintaining a steady cash flow.

An effective RCM process also involves proactive denial management. Identifying common reasons for claim rejections and addressing them upfront minimizes revenue leakage and helps the practice secure full reimbursement for its services. 

Partnering with an experienced billing provider can iron out this process, saving anesthesiologists time and reducing their administrative burden. At MBM, a big part of our duties are to stay updated on the latest regulatory changes and payer requirements so that claims are processed correctly the first time, reducing the risk of denials. 

Mitigate Risks of Underpayments

Underpayments are a significant challenge for anesthesia practices, particularly given the complexities of payer policies and reimbursement rules. 

According to Anesthesiology News, two significant issues jeopardize the sustainability of anesthesiology practices: the underappreciation of their services by the public and errors in billing processes. 

The undervaluation of anesthesia care highlights the stark discrepancy between Medicare reimbursement rates for anesthesia — typically around 33% of the rates paid by private insurers — and those of other medical specialties. In some states, these reimbursement rates are even lower, further exacerbating the issue. 

In comparison, Anesthesia News reports other medical specialties receive an average of 80% of private insurance rates through Medicare, underscoring the specific financial strain faced by anesthesiologists.

This is one of the main reasons many anesthesia providers partner with billing and coding companies. These specialists make sure providers are reimbursed accurately and avoid the strain caused by underpayments, which supports long-term financial sustainability. 

Challenges Facing Sustainable Anesthesia Practices

Implementing sustainability measures is not without hurdles for any practice. Limited budgets, resistance to change, and the complexity of regulatory compliance are some of the most common setbacks. Medical practices may also struggle to balance the need for immediate cost savings with the long-term investments required for sustainability.

This is where partnering with a trusted practice management provider makes a significant difference. We offer billing, coding, and revenue optimization solutions to help anesthesia practices overcome financial and operational challenges while staying focused on delivering high-quality patient care. 

Whether you're looking to boost your cash flow or prioritize environmental sustainability, MBM will guide your medical practice on the way to a more resilient future.

More Sustainable Healthcare Starts Here 

Take the first step toward a more sustainable and profitable practice. Schedule a free consultation with MBM today to identify your anesthesia team’s greatest opportunities for improvement.

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