A cost-benefit analysis of introducing and anethesia residency electrive at a private health system

Abstract

The United States is facing a physician shortage of immense proportions in the future, with an estimated shortage of approximately 37,800 - 124,000 physicians by 2034. In an effort to increase graduate medical education opportunities, some private health systems in the US have sponsored residency elective rotations in conjunction with academic medical centers. Anesthesiology electives in a private health system are unique in that they may have an impact on the clinical productivity of the private anesthesiologists. Out goal was to explore the financial costs associated with establishing a one-month anesthesiology residency elective rotation at a private health system, as well as identify potential benefits to the academic center, residents, and the private health system.