Costs and risks of weekend anesthesia staffing at 6 independently managed surgical suites

Franklin Dexter; Richard H Epstein; H Michael Marsh

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Costs and risks of weekend anesthesia staffing at 6 independently managed surgical suites

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Costs and risks of weekend anesthesia staffing at 6 independently managed surgical suites

Franklin Dexter, Richard H Epstein and H Michael Marsh

AANA journal, Vol.70(5), pp.377-381

10/2002

PMID: 12425127

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Abstract

We previously developed a statistical method that managers can use to assure that nurse anesthetists are on call on weekends for as few hours as possible while providing a specified level of care for operating room (OR) patients. The statistically derived staffing solutions are optimal, meaning that the total number of staffed hours is guaranteed to be as low as possible to achieve the specified risk of being unable to care for patients as promptly as they had in the recent past. We used the statistical method to review nurse anesthetist weekend staffing at 6 surgical suites that were part of a healthcare system with a cost-conscious management team. Four of the suites had already made staffing changes resulting in a greater than 6% risk of being understaffed. One suite had adequate current staffing but slightly exceeded the minimum total staffing hours. One suite had more anesthetist coverage than was needed, resulting in excess staffing costs greater than $200,000 per year. We conclude that the principal value of the statistical method may be in helping healthcare system administrators and anesthetists quantify the impact of contemplated reductions in staffing on their risk of understaffing and prologing patients' wait for OR care.

Hospital Costs

Risk Management - economics

Nurse Anesthetists - organization & administration

Surgery Department, Hospital - manpower

Humans

Personnel Staffing and Scheduling - organization & administration

Nurse Anesthetists - economics

Personnel Staffing and Scheduling - economics

Risk Management - organization & administration

Surgery Department, Hospital - economics

Surgery Department, Hospital - organization & administration

Details

Title: Subtitle: Costs and risks of weekend anesthesia staffing at 6 independently managed surgical suites
Creators: Franklin Dexter - Division of Management Consulting, Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
Richard H Epstein
H Michael Marsh
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: AANA journal, Vol.70(5), pp.377-381
Publisher: United States
PMID: 12425127
ISSN: 0094-6354
eISSN: 2162-5239
Language: English
Date published: 10/2002
Academic Unit: Health Management and Policy; Anesthesia
Record Identifier: 9983806271602771

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