Designing a Perfusion Coverage Model That Doesn't Overpay for Idle Time

Every cardiac program faces the same tension: perfusion coverage has to be there for the case that comes in at 2 a.m., but paying a full complement to stand ready for cases that rarely materialize is expensive. The coverage model is where that tension is either managed or ignored.

The two ways coverage goes wrong

Understaffing shows up as burnout, premium contract labor to fill gaps, and continuity risk. Overstaffing shows up as paid idle capacity — FTEs and call stipends that exceed what the case volume actually requires. Both are costly; they simply fail in opposite directions, and most programs drift toward one without measuring which.

Building the model on real data

The goal: right-sized, not minimized

This is not about cutting to the bone — understaffing a life-critical service is a false economy. It is about aligning coverage with demand so you are neither exposed nor paying for readiness you do not use. Done well, a coverage redesign often improves both the labor line and the team's sustainability at once.