Canada needs a national strategy for anesthesia services in rural and remote regions – CMAJ

July 27, 2020

KEY POINTS

Anesthesia services are essential for the provision of surgical, obstetric and emergency services in rural Canada.
An overall shortage of anesthesiologists is projected for Canada; thus, investment in health human resource planning and innovative training strategies are required to address this shortage.
Family physician anesthetists, who bring other generalist skills to rural communities, have been cost-effective care providers in rural Canada for decades.
A national strategy for the provision of rural anesthesia services includes 5 key components: social accountability, policy interventions, rural and remote practice models, a national research agenda, and mentorship and continuing professional education.