Becker’s Healthcare Podcast What CEOs Need to Know Before Changing Anesthesia Partners
Mar 24, 2026
Josh Lumbley, MD, a practicing anesthesiologist and senior leader at NorthStar Anesthesia, shares practical perspectives on changing anesthesia partners. He discusses why transitions matter beyond selection. He covers on-site leadership, recruitment pipelines, 90-day plans, retention strategies, and early warning signs of failing transitions.
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Transition Is A Clinical Systems Problem
- A transition is more than a contract; it's replacing a complex clinical system that must function reliably from day one.
- Josh Lumbley warns the real test begins the day you announce a change because anesthesia affects every surgical and procedural case.
Require Visible Onsite Leadership
- Do confirm who will lead the transition on-site and ensure that leader is present regularly before and after switch day.
- Ask your prospective partner for a named operational and clinical lead who participates in interviews and ground-level planning.
Measure Recruiting And Retention Equally
- Do probe recruitment and retention equally: recruit pipelines matter but retaining clinicians matters more for stability.
- Josh Lumbley recommends evaluating local market knowledge, national recruiting capacity, and the group's retention rates.