Our surgical colleague on A Chance to Cut . . . responds to the piece on delayed weekend testing. He disagrees with my hypothesis that the savings from shortened length of stay would offset the increased staffing costs of treating a weekend like a weekday. Perhaps this should be studied next.
Given the current nursing shortage and the premium that would have to be paid to staff to work the weekend, to give up time with their friends and family, would likely surpass any LOS savings that could be achieved.
