FTEs per adjusted occupied bed is a core measure of hospital staffing intensity. Convert paid hours and patient volume into the ratio, compare it with a benchmark, and translate any gap into FTEs and labor cost.
How it works
Measure hospital staffing intensity as paid FTEs per adjusted occupied bed, compare it with a benchmark, and translate the gap into FTEs and annual labor cost.
Paid FTEs = Paid hours ÷ (Hours per FTE × Days ÷ 365)
Adjusted patient days = Inpatient days × (Gross IP + OP revenue) ÷ Gross IP revenue
Adjusted occupied beds = Adjusted patient days ÷ Days in period
FTEs per AOB = Paid FTEs ÷ Adjusted occupied bedsCommon uses
- Labor productivity and staffing benchmarking
- Cost-reduction and turnaround planning
- Budget staffing targets by volume
Worked example
The calculator above opens with this example. Change any input to see the results update instantly, or select Reset to return to these figures.
| Total paid hours (period) | 2,350,000 |
| Days in period | 365 |
| Paid hours per FTE (annual) | 2,080 |
| Inpatient days | 48,600 |
| Gross inpatient revenue | $612,000,000 |
| Gross outpatient revenue | $388,000,000 |
| Benchmark FTEs per AOB (optional) | 4.9 |
| Average hourly labor cost (optional) | $42.50 |
| FTEs per adjusted occupied bed | 5.19 |
| Paid FTEs | 1,129.81 |
| Adjusted occupied beds | 217.57 |
| Paid hours per adjusted patient day | 29.59 |
| FTEs above benchmark | 63.73 |
| Annual cost above benchmark | $5,633,904 |
Reaching the benchmark would reduce about 63.73 FTEs, or $5,633,904 a year at $42.50 per hour. Use the same FTE definition and the same departments (for example, excluding physician practices) as the benchmark source.
Interpreting the results
- Use paid hours (including PTO) for cost analysis and worked hours for productivity analysis; do not mix them.
- Teaching hospitals and those with complex service lines typically staff above community-hospital benchmarks.
- Trend the ratio by pay period to catch premium pay and overtime before month-end.
Frequently asked questions
What is an adjusted occupied bed?
An adjusted occupied bed is adjusted patient days divided by the days in the period. It represents the average number of inpatient beds in use after converting outpatient activity into inpatient equivalents.
What is a typical FTE per adjusted occupied bed ratio?
Ratios vary widely by hospital type. Community hospitals often fall in a range of roughly 4 to 6, while academic medical centers and hospitals with complex service lines run higher. Compare against peers of similar size and scope.
Should I use paid or worked hours?
Paid hours include vacation, holidays and sick time and suit cost analysis. Worked hours measure productive time and suit productivity analysis. Use the same basis as the benchmark you are comparing against.
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