NorthStar Anesthesia Expands ASC Partnerships Nationwide

IRVING, Texas, Oct. 23, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- NorthStar Anesthesia has expanded its network of ambulatory surgery center (ASC) partnerships by securing 17 new partnerships nationwide to date in 2026. The company, which is a company of caregivers founded by an anesthesiologist and a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), has more than 4,000 anesthesiologists and CRNAs under its banner, and partners with over 280 healthcare client sites across more than 20 states.

As ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) face mounting financial pressures, staffing challenges, and increasingly complex patient needs, anesthesia has emerged as a critical partner in their ability to operate efficiently and sustainably. NorthStar Anesthesia is addressing these challenges through a dedicated ASC model designed to reduce preventable case cancellations, improve surgical throughput, and help centers make the most of their existing operating room capacity.

CEO Adam Spiegel noted that approximately 80% of ASCs in NorthStar's network now require anesthesia stipends, compared with just 10% to 15% before the pandemic. As anesthesia costs rise, ensuring that staffing levels align with actual surgical demand has become increasingly important. NorthStar works with ASC partners to develop staffing models that reflect each facility's case mix, surgical volume, and operating requirements.

NorthStar Anesthesia is addressing these challenges through a dedicated ASC model designed to reduce preventable case cancellations, improve surgical throughput, and help centers make the most of their existing operating room capacity. The company emphasizes proactive patient assessment, reliable staffing, and clinical consistency to help surgery centers reduce preventable cancellations and maximize surgical capacity.

One of the most significant opportunities to improve ASC performance lies in the preoperative process. When potential anesthesia concerns are not identified until the day of surgery, patients may face unexpected cancellations, surgeons lose valuable operating time, and centers absorb the cost of unused capacity. NorthStar Anesthesia addresses this challenge through ASC-specific pre-anesthesia testing (PAT) guidelines and standardized clinical protocols designed to identify potential issues earlier, facilitate appropriate patient optimization, and support consistent decision-making across the surgical process.

In ambulatory surgery, the decisions made before the patient arrives are often just as important as those made in the operating room. A consistent, evidence-based approach to preoperative assessment helps NorthStar identify risks earlier, determine which patients are appropriate for the ASC setting, and address potential barriers to surgery in advance. That means fewer last-minute surprises and a better experience for patients, surgeons, and facilities.

Alongside clinical challenges, ASCs are navigating a changing economic environment. As anesthesia costs rise, ensuring that staffing levels align with actual surgical demand has become increasingly important. NorthStar Anesthesia works with ASC partners to develop staffing models that reflect each facility's case mix, surgical volume, and operating requirements.

NorthStar Anesthesia's approach combines national resources with local clinical expertise. As ASCs take on a greater share of surgical procedures, the demands placed on anesthesia providers are becoming more complex. Smaller or locally managed anesthesia groups may face challenges maintaining consistent coverage, recruiting clinicians, or investing in standardized clinical and operational processes. NorthStar's model combines local clinical leadership with national recruiting capabilities, dedicated ASC operations expertise, and established quality guidelines. This infrastructure helps support continuity of care, consistent clinical practices, and the flexibility to respond to changes in surgical demand.

The company's growing network of ASC partnerships includes CarePlex Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Center in Norfolk, Virginia; Stony Point Surgery Center and West Creek Surgery Center, both part of MedRVA Healthcare in Richmond, Virginia; an Orthopedic Surgery Center in Wisconsin; Eye Surgery Center of Homewood in Homewood, Alabama; and The Toledo Clinic ASC in Toledo, Ohio. These partnerships reflect the growing importance of anesthesia providers that can address both the clinical and operational needs of outpatient surgery centers.

NorthStar Anesthesia is committed to helping ASCs operate more efficiently and sustainably. The company's dedicated ASC model, combined with its national resources and local clinical expertise, is helping ASCs reduce preventable cancellations, improve surgical throughput, and make the most of their existing operating room capacity. As ASCs face mounting financial pressures, staffing challenges, and increasingly complex patient needs, NorthStar Anesthesia is a critical partner in their ability to operate efficiently and sustainably.