title: Impact of average patient acuity on staffing of the phase I PACU.
abstract: The authors consider methods for determining staffing requirements for a Phase I PACU. Given that the total number of nursing hours per day is limited by budgetary constraints, PACU staffing can be adjusted to minimize the percentage of days that the PACU is full and cannot accept additional patients from the OR. Except for very small PACUs, the number of staffing options is so large that computer optimization methods must be used. In addition, patient acuity must be incorporated into the staffing plan. Methods are described for adjusting staffing requirements when some patient acuities differ from 1 nurse:2 patients, when patients transition from one acuity to another, and when acuity is not known for all patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. Franklin-Dexter@UIowa.edu
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dexter
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wachtel
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Epstein
mesh_terms: D002017:Budgets; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010562:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D016528:Postanesthesia Nursing; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011997:Recovery Room; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload