The price of anesthesia care

The focus on the cost of health care presents a paradox. Although society demands lower cost healthcare, few want to cut health services or the quality of the care received. There continues to be strong consumer pressure to improve the quality of health care and to increase the scope of services, while keeping cost increases to a minimum. Obviously, there is no single answer to the complex issues facing the health care industry. The nurse anesthetist, must however, begin answering these demands with an analysis of our own practice. Our role in the health care system of the future will be determined, not just on our clinical competency, but also on how we respond to the system as a whole. "Cost effectiveness" will need to be redefined as CRNAs provide a "value added" service.