title: Distribution of US anesthesia providers and services.
abstract: This study describes the correlation between anesthesia providers by type (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist [CRNA] or anesthesiologist) and their respective rural or urban distributions across America. Analyses are based on county level data contained in several distinct databases with a given assumption that most providers practice and reside in the same rural or urban designation category. Data reveal that 91.6% (28,569) of active practicing anesthesiologists reside in metropolitan counties and that 8.4% (2,625) reside in nonmetropolitan counties. Of the 26,658 active practicing CRNAs, 81.4% (21,701), reside in metropolitan counties as opposed to 18.6% (4,957) in nonmetropolitan counties. Overall, analyses indicate that out of a total of 3,140 counties, there are 843 counties in the United States where neither anesthesiologists nor CRNAs reside. Ninety-seven percent (816) of these counties are nonmetropolitan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nurse Anesthesia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va., USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fallacaro
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Law
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology; D002568:Certification; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists / Q000193:education / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019035:Rural Health Services; D014481:United States; D019037:Urban Health Services; D000078329:Workforce