Improving Scheduling Efficiency in the Setting of Staff Turnover and Increased Surgical Volume in the Post-anesthesia Care Unit Using Census Data Trends

Abstract

This article describes the successful implementation of a staffing restructuring in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) at a large Cancer Center in New York City. Retrospective census data (hourly census “snapshots” and 60-day average daily census trends) in the Main PACU was evaluated to predict PACU's busiest working hours and adjust PACU staffing targets accordingly. This restructure led to a 55% decrease in overtime expenditure in 2023 YTD compared to 2022 YTD ($264,248 and $588,063 annual dollars spent, respectively), despite a 6.6% increase in surgical volume and 2x the amount of staff turnover in 2023 compared to 2022.