The world of healthcare is a busy one that requires physicians to work on-call schedules in order to serve patients. Being on-call is often an integral and complex part of a physician’s job, but it can be manageable and even enjoyable if done correctly. That’s why it’s important to establish a call scheduling system that works for the entire team and takes various work-life balance factors into consideration. Here are some ways to ensure that your physicians’ call schedules are created fairly and with their individual needs in mind.
Use A Customized Approach
Physicians have different needs that schedule administrators need to adapt to when scheduling on-call time. Clinical staff members need to be able to manage time off, shift switching, overtime and emergency leave. But your organization also needs to keep call scheduling fair, define what “fair” actually means, and create duty rosters that will work well for both physician and patient needs. Flexibility is a necessity, and the person or people in charge of administering schedules needs to understand your organization’s staff well and adapt their needs into a scheduling system.
These details require that whatever system your organization uses to manage scheduling needs to be flexible and customizable, as well. Software must be set up to take whatever updates and details you need to give it, and it should mesh well with the healthcare organization’s other systems.
Another important aspect of a customized approach is creating an accountable team in charge of creating schedules so the load isn’t on one person or so one person doesn’t make all the rules. It’s a good idea to make sure that at least one person in charge of scheduling on this team is a physician who can provide insight about other staff members’ professional lives. An approach to scheduling that’s both caring and professional will foster good relationships among staff, improve work-life balances and benefit your organization as a whole.
Base Scheduling On Set Rules
In order to work properly, a call schedule system must follow a logical set of rules that determine how to manage physicians’ on-call time and ensure that their duties are clear. Having a set of rules built into the process cuts down on errors and misunderstandings, and makes the schedulers’ job a lot easier. This set of rules also helps ensure that on-call scheduling is fair to all staff members. It can help by preventing over- or under-scheduling, allowing easier time off requesting, creating functional time limits for working and providing time tracking tools that make spotting mistakes and changes easier. This sort of rules-based call scheduling will help your physicians work and manage their professional lives better.
Track Statistics
Call scheduling generates a lot of data, and that data can be used to make newer and better scheduling decisions. It can help identify peak work times, the ongoing needs of physicians and any successes or issues that may be arising as a result of current scheduling decisions. It can also identify if anyone is being over- or underworked, how effectively staff members work under different conditions and how resources can be better managed for on-call physicians.
Results of Good Call Scheduling
Being on-call is necessary work, but it can also be challenging. Having a well-made call schedule with flexibility features will result in a lot of positive effects. First, physicians who are happier with their work and whose needs are attended to are more able to do their best work. They have a lower risk of burning out and are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs (which leads to higher staff retention rates), and they will help promote a positive culture within their organization. And on a technical level, good call scheduling helps diminish costly errors and ensure resources are properly used.
How Qgenda Helps
Qgenda software offers a fully customizable scheduling experience with advanced analytics that allows for open communication and easy access to schedules. It’s completely compatible with other systems, and supports intuitive tools that will be useful for your organization’s needs. It empowers a fair, rules-based approach to scheduling so your physicians will feel comfortable with their duties and on-call times. For more information or to schedule a demo, contact Qgenda today!
