Addressing the Anesthesia Workforce Shortage by Reducing Barriers and Expanding Educational Opportunities to Increase the Supply of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in Washington (ESSB 6286)
Description:
UW CHWS, in collaboration with the Board, Washington Medical Commission, and the Department of Health, must study the workforce shortages in each facility providing anesthesia services in Washington State. An initial report must be submitted to the Legislature beginning June 30, 2025, and an update report must be submitted annually thereafter.
The initial report and each subsequent report must include, but is not limited to: identifying the factors and barriers to entry into the profession of nurse anesthesiology; evaluating and assessing the current training and pipeline for CRNAs; developing recommendations that reduce barriers for individuals who want to become CRNAs and increasing the available clinical training slots for nurse anesthesia residents; creating and maintaining an implementation plan to improve the pipeline for CRNAs in the state; identifying the number of qualified anesthesia providers, including, at a minimum, physician anesthesiologists and CRNAs, who may practice independently in the state of Washington at each facility providing anesthesia services; and providing policy recommendations to expand the nurse anesthesia workforce and optimize the cost of providing anesthesia services, including initiatives for all practicing independent anesthesia providers to practice at the top of their license.
UW CHWS shall submit a final report due June 30, 2029, detailing the progress made in the previous five years and any findings and policy recommendations to further address the workforce shortages and barriers to further expanding education of CRNAs.
For the first year of this project, our team is conducting three major activities in year 1: (1) an overview of occupations which provide anesthesia care in Washington state, (2) an in-depth literature review to describe current approaches for addressing anesthesia workforce gaps and (3) a descriptive analysis of the anesthesia workforce using data associated with Washington state licenses. As specified in the legislation, we will compose a Year 1 report summarizing our findings and outlining our plan for years 2-5 of this project.
Lead Researchers: Paula Kett, PhD, MPH, RN, IBCLC & Bianca Frogner, PhD
Contact Info: pmk@uw.edu & bfrogner@uw.edu
Funder:
Washington State Legislature
Status:
In Progress
Links/Documents:
https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2023-24/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/6286-S.E%20SBR%20APS%2024.pdf?q=20240727014317