A model to determine staff levels, cost, and productivity of hospital units

Abstract

A methodology is presented with examples of the productivity, the staffing required, the resultant productivity, and costs that can be obtained for hospital units that are subject to random work demands such as laboratory, radiology, physical therapy, and nuclear medicine. The methodology assumes that the hospital has a labor productivity system that produces the RVUs or earned hours of work accomplished daily by shift. Factors considered are the distribution of the capabilities of the work force, the fatigue and delay allowances of the work standards, the quality of the work standards, the maximum amount of overtime that people will be asked to work, staffing policies such as constant or different staffing levels for each day of the week, and worker selection processes. Predicted results are compared with present practice, which indicates that substantial cost reductions can occur with the use of the methodology.