The evolution of human resource needs in the USA.

The development of the specialty of anaesthesiology in the USA over the last half-century has seen a significant growth in the number of anaesthesia departments and trainees. With no comprehensive national planning policy for physician human resources in existence, the number of anaesthesiologists has been determined by other things, such as market forces and capacities of the training programme. The American Society of Anesthesiologists has doubled in size in the past 15 years. The proliferation of anaesthesiologists has certainly been beneficial in terms of safety and access to anaesthesia care. However, the recent prospect of too many anaesthesiologists for the future has led to wide oscillations in the number of trainees and employment opportunities.