Scheduling of Midlevel Providers at Level I Trauma Centers

Midlevel providers (MLPs), nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are essential to the provision of trauma care services, particularly in the wake of residency hour restrictions. The demand for these providers fluctuates with cyclical patient arrivals, however, most trauma teams continue to staff MLPs in a linear fashion. Failure to plan for variable arrivals may contribute to excessive patient wait times and emergency department overcrowding. The purpose of this study was to compare qualitative (e.g., visual) and quantitative (e.g., computer model) approaches to MLP staffing, and the impact on patient wait times and MLP cost.