Obstetric Anesthesiology in the United States: Current and Future Demand for Fellowship-trained Subspecialists

Abstract

(Anesth Analg. 2018;127:1445–1447) Subspeciality training in obstetric anesthesiology is associated with improved patient outcomes (27% reduction in risk of maternal death). Therefore, it is no surprise that the 2015 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM) consensus document for improved referral and regionalization of high-risk obstetric services proposed defined levels of high-risk obstetric services with specific requirements. Level II centers require a board-certified anesthesiologist with special training or experience in obstetrics available for consultation, whereas in level III-IV centers, this board-certified anesthesiologist must also be “in charge of obstetric anesthesia services” (level I: birth centers, basic care; II: specialty care; III: subspecialty care; IV: regional perinatal health centers). Considering that the demand for obstetric anesthesia services has increased dramatically in the past few decades, the authors of the present article estimate the workforce demand for fellowship-trained obstetric anesthesiologists (FTOAs).