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Published by Joe Rodriguez
I'm Joe Rodriguez, CRNA. After co-hosting the podcast Anesthesia Deconstructed for years, I kept running into the same problem. I was told that if I stayed clinically excellent and kept my head down, the rest would take care of itself. If you're reading this, you know all too well… IT DOES NOT. Unfortunately, time and time again, I discovered that the most impactful tools to leverage throughout my career in anesthesia (e.g. money, influence, deal negotiations, power) are never taught to us in school or in practice. I had to pick it all up at dinners, off the record, wherever the valuable conversations take place but go unheard. Honestly, my issue with every other podcast in our field is that clinical teaching and polite leadership talk are…are a little boring. I figure if it bores me, it bores you. So then, where can we learn how groups do or don't make money? How do hospital deals get structured? Why do subsidies keep climbing? What separates a holding company from private equity? What does it take to build leadership that holds up under pressure? The list goes on. Which brings us here. I present to you the show I've been wanting to see and got tired waiting around for. About the Rest is a twice-monthly inside baseball podcast for the people who run things. Join me as I sit down with fellow anesthesia business leaders Randy Moore and other key voices from the field to take real positions and hash out the big questions, warts and all. If it's in the public record, it's on the table: announcements, policy changes, lawsuits, the big RFP nobody will explain, the conference moment everyone clocked. If you want to learn how to get into the OR, this isn't it. About the Rest is about, well, the rest! Learn More: www.abouttherest.com About the Rest is a Human Content Production
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20 exam windows invalidated. Roughly 150 graduates who thought they had a job in September now retaking a national certification exam. And a workforce gap between CRNAs and anesthesiologists that's up to 11,000 and accelerating. Joe Rodriguez sits down with Randy Moore and Tracy Young, three days into Tracy's term as president of his professional association. They don't agree on all of it. That's the point. The docket opens with the CAA certification crisis: what NCCAA found, why Tracy says the CRNA community shouldn't take a victory lap, and what it means for hospitals already stretched thin. From there, Randy walks through the supply and demand curves reshaping the locums market, Tracy lays out the data on the widening CRNA-anesthesiologist gap, and both agree a locums company bubble is forming, even if they disagree on the timeline. The sharpest moment of the episode: Randy makes the case that anesthesia groups have spent years selling themselves as a cost to minimize instead of an investment that drives OR volume, and argues that's the real reason contracts get lost. Plus: a difficult conversation about a real-world medication error making national headlines, handled from a systems and second-victim lens rather than a blame lens, and Joe closes with a personal reflection on what changes when you stop trying to win every argument. Takeaways: Test-bank leaks don't just fail an exam. They retroactively threaten seven years of certifications. Confidentiality isn't a control, it's a hope. Anesthesia supply is exploding on a delayed timeline. Cohort increases decided during COVID take three-plus years to hit the market. 2025's record graduate numbers are the first wave, not the peak. Pricing anesthesia is not a simple supply and demand exercise. Margins are sticky. Recruiting gets easier before rates ever move, and the real correction only lands when a hospital's actual costs force the renegotiation. Anesthesia groups lose contracts for one reason about 70% of the time: they can't cover the points of service. Cost is rarely the actual failure point, even though it's the stated one. Framing anesthesia as a cost to minimize instead of an investment that unlocks OR volume is the biggest strategic error facility partners make, and anesthesia groups reinforce it every time they lead with price. Power without discipline just wins arguments. Power used well finds the best answer and lets the argument go. _____________ Want more Dr. Joe Rodriguez? Tik Tok: @jrodcrna21 Instagram: @jrod.crna & @abouttherestpod YouTube: @AboutTheRest Thanks for my co-hosts: Randy Moore (EVP & National Chief CRNA, NorthStar Anesthesia) Gary Keeling (VP of Anesthesia Services, Coronis RCM) To Learn More about Human Content Visit: http://www.human-content.com To Learn More about About The Rest Visit: www.abouttherest.com Got a Question? hello@abouttherest.com Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
USAP allegedly paid a competitor $9 million to stay out of the Dallas market. A Texas teachers' pension system says it's paying twice the going rate for anesthesia because of it. Joe Rodriguez (Chief Growth Officer, Guide Anesthesia) is joined by Tracy Young (COO, Essential Anesthesia) and Gary Keeling (VP, Anesthesia Services at Coronis Health) to unpack the USAP consolidation fallout, why anesthesia pay works the way it does, and the debt mechanics behind CHG Healthcare's acquisition of Krewe Anesthesia. First: Representative Tom Oliverson's Houston Chronicle testimony and the Texas Teacher Retirement System's claim that USAP charges double the going rate, including the allegation that USAP paid Envision $9 million to stay out of the Dallas market entirely. Tracy makes the business case for what USAP did before making the ethics case against how they did it. Second: why anesthesiologists and CRNAs actually get paid what they get paid, and why "fair" isn't a market principle derived from your length of training. It's derived from what two parties subjectively determine. Third: CHG Healthcare's acquisition of Krewe Anesthesia, traced back through Leonard Green Partners and the collapse of Crozer Health. Tracy breaks down how debt-funded acquisitions work and why the model only survives as long as interest rates stay low. Plus: Joe's three-part fix for what's actually driving healthcare costs, and a listener question on practicing anesthesia in New York. Takeaways: Comparing anesthesia rates to "the market average" is meaningless. Most rates are too compressed to cover the actual cost of staffing anesthesia care. Anesthesiologists and CRNAs get paid what they get paid for one reason: that's what the market is willing to pay. Supply and demand, not sympathy or spin. Fairness is not a market principle, per se. Compensation is only ever what a buyer is willing to pay and a provider is willing to accept. Locums companies are becoming management companies because hospitals want one vendor to own the whole staffing headache, not five vendors to coordinate. Solving healthcare costs at the system level takes three things: real investment in public health, broad coverage delivered privately, and better use of the professionals already in the system. Want more Dr. Joe Rodriguez? Tik Tok: @jrodcrna21 Instagram: @jrod.crna & @abouttherestpod YouTube: @AboutTheRest Thanks for my co-hosts: Randy Moore (EVP & National Chief CRNA, NorthStar Anesthesia) Gary Keeling (VP of Anesthesia Services, Coronis RCM) To Learn More about Human Content Visit: http://www.human-content.com To Learn More about About The Rest Visit: www.abouttherest.com Got a Question? hello@abouttherest.com Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
UnitedHealthcare posted $5.5 billion in profit this quarter. Another state just opted out of physician supervision requirements. And CMS quietly gutted what's left of anesthesia's quality reporting program. Joseph A. Rodriguez, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Guide Anesthesia, is joined by Randy Moore, Chief Anesthetist Officer and Executive Vice President for Strategy, and Gary Keeling, VP Business Development at Coronis Revenue Cycle Management, for a wide-ranging read on where anesthesia economics are actually headed. They don't agree on how much of this changes practice on the ground. That's the point. Ohio becomes the 27th opt-out state, and the three break down why the practical impact rarely matches the headline. CMS's 2027 proposed rule drops the conversion factor again and dismantles MIPS reporting, Gary explains why almost nobody hits the threshold anymore. UnitedHealthcare's quarterly numbers spark a sharper conversation about what a 7% margin on $112 billion in revenue actually signals about the system underneath it, and about the difference between a flawed idea and a poorly executed one. A new rural healthcare bill promising higher CRNA and anesthesiologist reimbursement gets a clear-eyed "it won't work" from all three. Plus: the pre-op smoking conversation nobody has ever actually had, and why "productivity, not cost" might be the real headline healthcare keeps missing. TAKEAWAYS Opt-out status changes almost nothing for practice models outside of all-CRNA sites already considering the switch. The headline outruns the operational impact by a wide margin. MIPS in anesthesia has become a check-the-box exercise with no measurable link to patient outcomes. Most providers no longer even hit the reporting threshold. Every CMS reimbursement cut gets absorbed the same way: pushed onto facility subsidies, which raises the cost of entry for new and smaller groups and accelerates consolidation. A rural anesthesia reimbursement bump sounds like an access fix but doesn't change the math for anesthesiologists or hospitals. Small percentages of small numbers stay small. Extreme profit sitting next to a broken system is not proof that free enterprise failed. It's proof that execution failed. Confusing the two is what pushes public opinion toward bad solutions. Healthcare's financial strain reads as a cost problem when it's actually a productivity problem. Fix throughput and OR utilization, and a large share of the "cost crisis" narrative disappears. Want more Dr. Joe Rodriguez? Tik Tok: @jrodcrna21 Instagram: @jrod.crna & @abouttherestpod YouTube: @AboutTheRest Thanks for my co-hosts: Randy Moore (EVP & National Chief CRNA, NorthStar Anesthesia) Gary Keeling (VP of Anesthesia Services, Coronis RCM) To Learn More about Human Content Visit: http://www.human-content.com To Learn More about About The Rest Visit: www.abouttherest.com Got a Question? hello@abouttherest.com Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Anesthesia coverage is now the single most cited financial headache for surgery center leaders in the country, and MD-only care is disappearing fast: QZ billing is up 15%, team-based coverage is up 30%, and CRNA-involved cases have nearly doubled in Florida over 14 years. Joe Rodriguez sits down with Randy Moore, Chief CRNA and Chief Strategy Officer at North Star Anesthesia, and first-time guest Andrew Woodmancey, founder and managing partner of Anesthesia Operations Consultants, a mid-sized consulting firm based in Florida, to break down what's actually driving these numbers. They don't agree on all of it. The conversation opens with a new VMG Health survey on where anesthesia subsidies are headed in 2026, then moves into the billing data behind the shift away from MD-only care. Andrew, brought on as the non-clinical voice in the room, argues the real economic problem is reimbursement and industry infighting, not scope-of-practice fights. Joe pushes further, arguing that credentials alone don't guarantee value: the market only pays for solving someone else's problem, and if surgeons can eventually do it without anesthesia providers, they will. Randy and Joe also spar over how much weight to give data versus identity in shaping the industry's direction. Also in this one: what change management actually looks like for an anesthesiologist moving from a one-to-three model to zone coverage, and why the math behind CRNA-only staffing might be quietly reversing in some markets. TAKEAWAYS 1. MD-only anesthesia care is significantly decreasing, not because of politics or scope-of-practice wins, but because the economics stopped supporting it. QZ billing is up 15%, team-based coverage up 30%. 2. In Florida, roughly 90% of anesthesia cases now involve a CRNA, up from about 70%. 3. Credentials alone don't create economic value. Value in this market is transactional to some degree, tied to solving someone else's problem, not to years of training. 4. QZ utilization is increasing across states, though unevenly, some markets seeing modest growth, others far more dramatic shifts. MD-only care is significantly decreasing nationally, and medical direction/team models are increasing at varying rates by state. Want more Dr. Joe Rodriguez? Tik Tok: @jrodcrna21 Instagram: @jrod.crna & @abouttherestpod YouTube: @AboutTheRest Thanks for my co-hosts: Randy Moore (EVP & National Chief CRNA, NorthStar Anesthesia) Gary Keeling (VP of Anesthesia Services, Coronis RCM) To Learn More about Human Content Visit: http://www.human-content.com To Learn More about About The Rest Visit: www.abouttherest.com Got a Question? hello@abouttherest.com Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Six days before a federal rule was set to take effect, the courts stepped in. The Department of Education tried to redefine who counts as a professional, a move that would have capped student loans for nurse anesthetists and the advanced-practice clinicians training behind them. The courts said the challenge is likely to succeed and hit pause. This week I sat down with Tracy Young, twenty-six years in the field, and Randy Moore, who runs anesthesia at enterprise scale, to work through what the ruling actually means and what it does not. It is a win in a battle, not the war. We get into the argument a federal regulator made that landed harder than we wanted to admit, why a rule written to require supervision is now being used against us, and where the line sits between what government should decide and what the people doing the work should. Plus the student-loan fight both parties get half-right, and why credentials stopped predicting who can lead. Good information first. Then the honest conversation about where anesthesia goes next. TAKEAWAYS The court blocked the rule on a preliminary injunction, not the merits. It buys time. It does not end the fight. The professional designation fight has real money behind it. Redefining the term caps federal loans for CRNAs, PAs, and nurse practitioners. The strongest argument against us was ours to fix. A federal statute still references supervision, and that language is being used to question our standing. Both sides of the student-loan debate are right. Treat the subsidy as a return question, and CRNAs are a good bet. We pass boards 95 percent of the time. Regulators are the wrong body to design clinical practice. The people closest to the work adapt faster than any rule can. Want more Dr. Joe Rodriguez? Tik Tok: @jrodcrna21 Instagram: @jrod.crna & @abouttherestpod YouTube: @AboutTheRest Thanks for my co-hosts: Randy Moore (EVP & National Chief CRNA, NorthStar Anesthesia) Tracy Young: Incoming President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology To Learn More about Human Content Visit: http://www.human-content.com To Learn More about About The Rest Visit: www.abouttherest.com Got a Question? hello@abouttherest.com Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Joe Rodriguez (co-founder, Guide Anesthesia) sits down with Randy Moore (EVP and National Chief CRNA, NorthStar Anesthesia) and Gary Keeling (VP of Anesthesia Services, Coronis RCM). Three seats, three vantage points on the same business. Let the spicy takes flow. First docket: the Arizona reimbursement fight. Gary calls the QZ cut a pure money grab. Randy steelmans the insurer's lobbyist before dismantling him, and explains why the hospitals least prepared to absorb the hit will be the ones paying it. Joe walks through why reimbursement parity doesn't raise costs when subsidies fill the gap, and tells the story of the insurer that paid patients directly for eight years. Second docket: the Texas non-compete case. Gary argues exits should hurt but not kill. Randy says hospitals deserve the right to fire bad vendors, but a $30 million buyout is anti-competitive. Joe draws the line between covenants that trap clinicians and the non-solicit rule that just says don't be shady. Plus: why the resume from Hawaii is a red flag, and what the law of inertia does to anesthesia groups that confuse stability with health. Takeaways: The QZ cut is not a savings. It's a transfer. Hospitals backstop anesthesia economics, so a 15% commercial reimbursement cut flows through subsidies to hospitals and ultimately taxpayers, while insurers book the difference. Reimbursement parity does not raise costs in anesthesia. Compensation sits above reimbursement and subsidies fill the gap, so cutting one payer's rate changes who pays, not how much is paid. The facilities that use QZ most are the ones least able to absorb the cut. Rural and underserved programs run closest to the margin, which makes this bad policy independent of the scope debate. CRNAs can lose non-compete fights. In the Texas case, the new employer contractually agreed to cover legal costs and damages, and the court sided with the original group anyway. A buyout promise is not a shield. The covenant you signed is enforceable as written, and "I read online it's unenforceable" is not a legal strategy. The line is solicitation, not competition. A non-solicit protects the group that gave you access to its surgeons and referrals without trapping you in place. Competing down the street is fair game. Taking the business with you is shady. Switching costs are a strategy. A $30 million buyout stops being protection and becomes a hostage situation. Hospitals should be able to fire bad vendors at a price that hurts but doesn't kill. Sign contracts like you plan airways. Have a plan A, B, and C for your exit before the honeymoon period ends, because the group that looks great at signing may not look great in year three. Want more Dr. Joe Rodriguez? Tik Tok: @jrodcrna21 Instagram: @jrod.crna & @abouttherestpod YouTube: @AboutTheRest Thanks for my co-hosts: Randy Moore (EVP & National Chief CRNA, NorthStar Anesthesia) Gary Keeling (VP of Anesthesia Services, Coronis RCM) To Learn More about Human Content Visit: http://www.human-content.com To Learn More about About The Rest Visit: www.abouttherest.com Got a Question? hello@abouttherest.com Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Joe Rodriguez sits down with Randy Moore and Tracy Young, to work through the week's hardest stories. Let the spicy takes flow! Reimbursement: UnitedHealthcare stops paying for physical status. Oklahoma and Louisiana fight back with legislation. Tracy makes the case that anesthesia has been commoditized, and that hospital subsidies taught payers they never have to pay full price. Private equity: California and Oregon pass laws to curb PE in medicine. Tracy argues we legislate against bad actors instead of punishing them. Randy defends consolidation, then explains why the Oregon deal was a playbook of what not to do. And the line nobody else will say: hospitals don't fire anesthesia groups that are doing a good job. Workforce: AA bills fail in Iowa and Minnesota. Joe argues the entire AA strategy asks the wrong question. Tracy disagrees with both hosts and predicts a sorted market: CRNA-centric facilities on one side, MD and AA medical-direction models on the other, driven by math, not preference. Plus: why anesthesia companies obsessed with growth keep losing contracts, and why CRNA residents work full-time hours unpaid while physician residents draw a salary. Takeaways: Hospital subsidies are functioning as a defacto safety net for the entire industry. They are the mechanism that lets payers keep cutting. Every subsidy dollar confirms someone else will cover the gap. Differentiation in anesthesia is no longer simply price. It is recruiting and retention, full stop. Culture is the product. Hospitals don't replace groups that are performing. If a contract gets shopped, there was a problem, whatever the press release says. Growth without product is a failure of leadership. The large groups losing contracts did it to themselves. The workforce will sort itself in the next decade. The average anesthesiologist is 55. CRNA graduation just crossed 3,000 for the first time. Profit motive is not a disease. Imbalance is. Everyone you've ever hired has a profit motive, including you. Want more Dr. Joe Rodriguez? Tik Tok: @jrodcrna21 Instagram: @jrod.crna & @abouttherestpod YouTube: @AboutTheRest Thanks for my co-hosts: Randall Mooore, DNP, MBA CRNA are Executive VP of Strategy and Chief Anesthetist Officer, former AANA CEO. Tracy Young: Incoming President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology To Learn More about Human Content Visit: http://www.human-content.com To Learn More about About The Rest Visit: www.abouttherest.com Got a Question? hello@abouttherest.com Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The FTC just notched its second win against the biggest roll-up in anesthesia history. Welsh Carson settled first. Now USAP. So who actually won, and who pays next? Joe Rodriguez sits down with Randy Moore and Gary Keeling for the kind of conversation that usually happens at the bar after the conference, not on the record. No "where did you go to school" warm-ups. Just three operators reading the headlines everyone else is misreading. Gary drops the frame that defines the episode: this is two Goliaths at war. Private equity built 70 percent market share with borrowed money. Insurers answered with the No Surprises Act and rate cuts. Now IDR is swinging back, hospitals are eating the shortfall through subsidies, and the FTC just stepped into the ring. Anesthesia providers are standing in the middle of all of it. Then the gloves come off on the anesthesiologist assistant fight. Sixty bills in thirty years. Gary says there's enough work for everybody and braces for the hate mail. Randy makes the case that should worry every workforce planner in the country: this shortage isn't a cycle anymore, it's structural, and it's not normalizing for five to seven years. Joe closes with the contrarian bet he's making with his own money. If you book the cases, staff the rooms, or sign the subsidy checks, this episode is your briefing. Takeaways The FTC win is a settlement, not a verdict. USAP admitted no fault and the terms are still being executed. The real signal is that the roll-up playbook now carries regulatory risk that didn't exist a decade ago. The Goliath framework: insurers wanted fragmented anesthesia markets they could play against each other. PE consolidated to fight back. The NSA flipped leverage to insurers, IDR is flipping it back, and hospitals absorb every swing through subsidies. PE's debt structure is the tell. Buy with borrowed money, load the debt onto the asset, run admin on a skeleton crew, jettison through bankruptcy when it breaks. Margin expectations beyond 6 to 15 percent in a service business are the warning sign. AA legislation has a 30-year losing record. Roughly 60 attempts, 47 straight failures from 2010 to 2019, and only 5 of 40 passed in 2025 during a historic shortage. If it was going to break through, that was the year. Randy's call: the workforce shortage is structural, not cyclical. Every CRNA program is expanding cohorts and demand still outruns supply. No meaningful normalization for five to seven years. The pipeline counterweight: 147 nurse anesthesia programs with 17 more coming. Joe's on the record preparing for demand growth to slow. Cycles always turn. Gary's operator test: the 2 percent of groups with excess staff aren't lucky, they built culture and systems. Everyone else is churning providers and renting locums at whatever price locums name. Want more Dr. Joe Rodriguez? Tik Tok: @jrodcrna21 Instagram: @jrod.crna & @abouttherestpod YouTube: @AboutTheRest Thanks for my co-hosts: Randall Mooore, DNP, MBA CRNA are Executive VP of Strategy and Chief Anesthetist Officer, former AANA CEO. Gary's is VP of Anesthesia Services, Revenue Cycle Management To Learn More about Human Content Visit: http://www.human-content.com To Learn More about About The Rest Visit: www.abouttherest.com Got a Question? hello@abouttherest.com Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Along life’s winding roads we’ve each worked tirelessly to hone our skills and ultimately become the excellent clinicians we are today. But what happens when being great in the OR isn't enough? Each week on About the Rest, Joe Rodriguez, DNAP, CRNA, gets into the weeds on the definitive podcast for fellow CRNAs and MDs who want to understand how our profession actually works behind the scenes… warts and all. The spiritual sibling of the award-winning podcast Anesthesia Deconstructed, About the Rest takes a commentary-driven approach to facing the infrastructural obstacles that keep holding us back. Because the hard truth is… although our clinical skills are essential, the business of healthcare far too often treats them as commodities. Unapologetically inside baseball, join the podcast where together we become leaders, gain influence, and hone the skills nobody taught in our programs to take control of our careers. To Learn More Visit: ww.abouttherest.com Got a Question? hello@abouttherest.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Anesthesia Deconstructed is sunsetting, but the conversation is just getting started. Joe and Mike announce Joe’s new podcast, “About the Rest!” Get ready for the next chapter of critical career-driven discussions exploring the leadership, performance, and business of a career in anesthesia. Simply stay subscribed to this feed to automatically follow as Season One begins May 2026 (don’t worry, old eps of Anesthesia Deconstructed aren’t going anywhere). As we navigate the systems, incentives, and power shifts that happen around the OR we want to know what you think! Visit abouttherest.com to join the community and share what you want to hear next. Get in Touch: hello@abouttherest.com A Human Content Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this powerful and unfiltered episode, Dr. Joseph Rodriguez — CRNA, former state and national leader, faculty member, and host of Anesthesia Deconstructed — takes us inside the real lessons of anesthesia leadership. From COVID-era disruption to contract losses, difficult boardroom conversations, and the relentless financial pressures of today’s anesthesia market, Joe shares stories that few leaders are willing to tell. Each story carries a hard-won lesson: why leadership is never just a title, how executive presence shapes outcomes, why data transparency can backfire, and how accountability transforms teams from fragile to high-performing. We also dive into the frameworks that shaped his leadership journey — from Crucial Conversations to The Four Agreements and Five Dysfunctions of a Team — and how every leader can apply them to grow themselves, their organizations, and the people they serve. This isn’t theory. It’s frontline leadership, with all the scars, pivots, and resilience required to survive in one of healthcare’s most disrupted specialties. Whether you’re a CRNA, SRNA, or a healthcare leader navigating change, this conversation is a masterclass in turning setbacks into systems, failures into frameworks, and words into lasting impact. Keywords: Anesthesia, CRNA Leadership, Healthcare Business, Executive Presence, Leadership Lessons, Nurse Anesthesiology, Organizational Growth, Accountability, Professional Development, Anesthesia Contracts, No Surprises Act, Healthcare Strategy, Team Building, Crucial Conversations, Five Dysfunctions of a Team Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this candid and wide-ranging episode, we sit down with Bill Bruce — CEO of the AANA, representing over 65,000 CRNAs and SRNAs nationwide — to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to lead the profession’s largest and most influential organization. From balancing the competing demands of members, boards, and limited resources, to navigating constant political, clinical, and industry noise, Bill explains how the CEO’s role is equal parts strategist, mediator, and pressure point. We explore how the AANA sets priorities, allocates resources, and adapts to both internal ambitions and external threats — and why the organization’s absence would have an almost immediate impact on CRNAs across the country. Bill also shares his perspective on maintaining focus in an environment of relentless change, the leadership qualities that matter most in high-stakes healthcare advocacy, and how the AANA is positioning the profession for the future. Whether you’re a CRNA, SRNA, or simply curious about the forces shaping nurse anesthesia, this conversation offers a rare inside look at the operational, strategic, and political realities of leading at the top. Keywords: Anesthesia, CRNA Leadership, Healthcare Advocacy, Professional Associations, Strategic Planning, Workforce Advocacy, Organizational Leadership, AANA, Healthcare Policy, Nursing Leadership Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this bold and revealing episode, we sit down with Randy Moore — former military CRNA, past CEO of the AANA, and now a top executive at one of the country’s largest anesthesia organizations — to explore how the anesthesia market unraveled, and why no one stopped it. From workforce blind spots to failed strategic planning, Randy walks us through the early warning signs that went unheeded, the flawed assumptions that fueled collapse, and the slow-motion crises that turned into full-blown disruption. We break down the shift from hospital dominance to ASC migration, the chilling effects of the No Surprises Act, and how private equity’s playbook fell apart. But we don’t stop at systems. Randy also gets personal — reflecting on the cost of unchecked ambition, the value of thoughtful leadership, and the non-negotiables he now looks for in partners and teams. Whether you lead a group, manage hospital operations, or just want to understand the business forces reshaping anesthesia, this conversation pulls no punches — and offers rare clarity from someone who’s led on every side of the table. Keywords: Anesthesia, CRNA Leadership, Healthcare Strategy, No Surprises Act, Workforce Crisis, Private Equity, Surgical Services, Hospital Operations, ASC Growth, Healthcare Leadership Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, we sit down with Dr. Brian Schmutzler — anesthesiologist, social media educator, and Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs at CCI Anesthesia — to unpack what it really means to lead in modern anesthesia. From the realities of staffing rural hospitals without anesthesiologists to fighting burnout, navigating private equity, and fiercely defending provider scope and safety, Brian shares hard-earned insights from both clinical and corporate perspectives. We also dive into the power of humor and education on social media, his 108K-strong Instagram following, and how his content brings awareness, advocacy, and levity to patients and practitioners alike. If you're a CRNA, MD, administrator, or just someone trying to understand where anesthesia is headed — and how to lead within it — this is an episode you can’t miss. Keywords:Leadership, Anesthesia, Social Media, Burnout, Independent Practice Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What REALLY happens when you’re named in a malpractice lawsuit? In this eye-opening episode, Joe Rodriguez sits down with Paul Lefebvre, lead claims professional and risk advisor, and Andrew Clark, head of business development at Physicians Preferred Medical — an anesthesia-specific malpractice carrier — to pull back the curtain on malpractice litigation. From the first call after an adverse event to depositions, defense strategies, and courtroom realities, this conversation is packed with must-know insights for every CRNA, anesthesiologist, and anesthesia group leader. We talk about why most anesthesia lawsuits are defensible, how to avoid career-derailing mistakes, the truth behind insurance carriers and legal strategy, and what separates providers who bounce back from those who don’t. This is not just about risk — it’s about resilience, smart choices, and protecting your future. Keywords: Malpractice, Anesthesia, Risk Management, Litigation, Informed Consent Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Anesthesia is evolving — and so are its leaders. In this special episode of Anesthesia Deconstructed, we dive into the dynamic shifts happening across the anesthesia landscape, where Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and anesthesiologists are stepping into new leadership roles across clinical, operational, and educational domains. Our expert panel — including leaders from Norstar Anesthesia, Rutgers University, Sound Physicians, Guide Anesthesia, and BPI Anesthesia — explores what it takes to lead in today's high-pressure, resource-constrained environment. From managing subsidy pressures and navigating insource vs. outsource models, to developing provider culture, expanding service lines, and building sustainable clinical partnerships — this discussion gets candid about the real challenges and the bold leadership required to address them. Whether you're a CRNA aiming for a leadership role, a physician looking for collaborative models, or a healthcare administrator tasked with rebuilding an anesthesia department, this episode offers practical insights, real-world experiences, and a clear call to action: it's all about the culture, the teamwork, and the long-term vision. Check your politics at the door — this is about building the future of anesthesia, together. Keywords: Leadership, Collaboration, Culture, Anesthesia, Innovation Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Keywords CRNA, nursing education, TikTok, Confident Care Academy, mentorship, cardiac anesthesia, online learning, healthcare, nursing community, media impact Summary In this engaging conversation, Joseph Rodriguez speaks with Chrissy Massaro, a prominent CRNA and founder of Confident Care Academy. They discuss the evolution of nursing education in the age of social media, the challenges faced by new nurses transitioning to CRNAs, and the importance of mentorship. Chrissy shares her journey from being a nurse to creating an online platform that bridges the educational gap for nurses. They also explore her clinical practice in cardiac anesthesia and her aspirations for the future of Confident Care Academy, including the development of an app and a mentor network. Takeaways Chrissy Massaro is a pioneer CRNA on TikTok, using social media to educate and connect with aspiring nurses. Confident Care Academy was created to address the educational gap for ICU nurses transitioning to CRNA roles. The importance of mentorship in nursing and CRNA education is emphasized throughout the conversation. Chrissy's clinical experience in cardiac anesthesia showcases the evolving role of CRNAs in high-stakes environments. The conversation highlights the impact of new media on nursing education and professional development. Chrissy's journey reflects the challenges and triumphs of pursuing a career in nursing against societal expectations. The future vision for Confident Care Academy includes developing an app for easy access to clinical education. Chrissy aims to advocate for policy changes in healthcare through her research and future PhD studies. The discussion reveals the significance of community support among CRNAs and nursing professionals on social media. Chrissy's story inspires others to take action and pursue their passions in nursing and education. Chapters 00:00The Birth of Confident Care Academy 02:17Creating an Educational Service Business 03:13Intro to Chrissy Massaro 05:29The Impact of COVID-19 on Nursing Education 08:02Personal Journey and Overcoming Barriers 11:04The Growth of Confident Care Academy 13:56Future Aspirations and Educational Innovations 21:05The Impact of Social Media on Professional Perception 23:07Mentorship and Accessibility in Healthcare 26:56Navigating the Path to a PhD 31:03Clinical Practice and Cardiac Anesthesia 38:00Future Aspirations and Policy Advocacy Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this conversation, Joseph Rodriguez and Mike MacKinnon discuss the evolution of CRNA programs, the impact of prep courses, and the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people for career success. They critique the economics of anesthesia services, explore fair market value in compensation, and address regulatory challenges faced by CRNAs, particularly in California. The dialogue emphasizes the need for critical thinking in the interview process and the implications of high compensation offers in the field. In this conversation, Mike MacKinnon and Joseph Rodriguez discuss the complexities of anesthesia practice, focusing on the roles of anesthesiologists and CRNAs, the legal challenges they face, and the implications of recent trademark disputes. They explore the future of anesthesia in light of healthcare consolidation, the impact of AI, and the evolving professional identity of CRNAs. The discussion also touches on leadership roles within professional organizations and the commitment required to effect change in the field.00:00Introduction 02:48The Impact of Prep Programs on Interview Processes 09:21Fair Market Value and CRNA Compensation 17:09Red Flags in High Compensation Offers 18:41The State of CRNA Practices 24:04Regulatory Challenges in Anesthesia 38:00Legal Battles and Professional Value 42:36Trademark Disputes in Anesthesiology 48:28Challenges Ahead for CRNAs 55:05The Role of AI in Healthcare 01:02:57Future of Anesthesia Practice Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Description: In this episode of Anesthesia Deconstructed, Joe Rodriguez dives deep with Dr. Jed Wolpaw, creator of the ACCRAC podcast and a leader in anesthesia education. Together, they discuss Jed’s unique path from history teacher to anesthesiologist, the critical importance of civil discourse, and universal learning principles that transcend medicine. With insights on podcasting, education, and the future of anesthesia, this episode offers something for every professional passionate about growth and collaboration. Keywords: Anesthesia, CRNA, SRNA, Dr. Jed Wolpaw, ACCRAC podcast, anesthesia education, Johns Hopkins, learning mindset, clinical debates, continuous monitoring, anesthesia podcast, professional growth, learner mindset, anesthesia teaching, anesthesia principles, post-op monitoring, pulmonary physiology, anesthesia innovation. Engaging Summary: What happens when a history teacher pivots to become a renowned anesthesiologist and educator? In this episode, host Joe Rodriguez sits down with Dr. Jed Wolpaw, creator of the influential ACCRAC podcast, to explore his fascinating journey and his mission to advance education in the field of anesthesia. Dr. Wolpaw shares powerful insights on developing a learner’s mindset, the art of civil discourse, and staying open to change in clinical practice. From practical tips on post-op monitoring to thought-provoking discussions about education and professional growth, this episode will leave listeners inspired and equipped with actionable insights. Join us as we delve into the universal principles that drive excellence in medicine and beyond. Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SEASON 7 BEGINS! Keywords for this Episodeanesthesia, non-compete agreements, legal challenges, FTC, healthcare law, CRNA, anesthesia practice, employment contracts, state laws, anesthesia updates Summary In this episode of Anesthesia Deconstructed, host Joe Rodriguez first discusses the latest updates in the field of anesthesia, including legal challenges faced by CRNAs and anesthesiologists, the AANA's bold lawsuit against the federal government, and updates on his personal practice at Guide Anesthesia, which is evolving out of Arizona Anesthesia Solutions. The conversation delves into the implications of non-compete agreements, the recent FTC ruling, and the nuances of state laws regarding these contracts. Scott Weavil, a legal expert, shares insights on negotiating employment contracts and the importance of understanding the legal landscape for healthcare professionals. The episode emphasizes the need for transparency and informed decision-making in anesthesia practice. Takeaways The AANA has initiated a lawsuit against the government over reimbursement issues. Non-compete agreements can serve legitimate business purposes but can also restrict employee mobility. The FTC's nationwide ban on non-compete agreements has been struck down by a Texas court. State laws regarding non-compete agreements vary significantly across the U.S. Negotiating employment contracts is crucial to avoid restrictive covenants that may hinder career growth. Understanding the legal implications of non-compete agreements is essential for healthcare professionals. The public needs to be informed about the qualifications of their healthcare providers. Non-solicitation agreements are often more common than non-compete agreements in certain regions. Healthcare professionals should be cautious of non-compete clauses that may limit future employment opportunities. The conversation highlights the importance of balancing individual and corporate interests in healthcare. Chapters 00:00Updates! 10:34Scott Intro 13:58Legitimate Business Purposes of Non-Competes 17:18The FTC Ban on Non-Competes 20:33State Laws on Non-Competes 23:17Challenging Non-Competes 25:35Differentiating Non-Competes and Non-Solicits 28:13The Future of Non-Competes 30:21Conclusion Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Observed September 13, 2026. Cached outside the daily freshness window; the positions keep the date they were taken on.
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