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Searching for ways to make your emergency medicine scheduling more effective? The efficient operation of a healthcare facility is largely dependent upon scheduling the right medical providers on the right shifts so that the staff is productive and overhead costs aren’t unnecessarily increased. Unpredictable shift changes such as last minutes changes and back to back shift scheduling can take both a toll on physicians and employers.
How you can create schedules that accommodate the facility’s needs and take into consideration the personal lives of the employees?
Check out these five tips for improving your organization’s shift scheduling process.
1) Invest in Shift Scheduling Software
There used to be a time when only large organizations, including those in the medical industry, could afford implementing shift scheduling software. However, these days cloud-based services make it affordable and easy for any facility to automate they're scheduling process. Software As A Service model that can be specifically tailored to any organization whether they employ five or a hundred employees.
2. Take Into Consideration Predictive Scheduling Laws
Several states in the United States like Oregon, New York, California and provinces in California requires that employers provide their workers with their work schedules at least two weeks in advance. Predictive scheduling laws are necessary because it forces organizations to address the work-life balance of their employees. After all, employees have personal lives, families that also demand they're attention and time. In addition, well-balanced schedules help keep employees happy which increases worker retention.
3. Hire On-Call Employees
Hiring a group of on-call only employees creates a bank of reliable physicians that are used when necessary and without expending money unless it’s needed. When hiring such employees it’s important to ensure that they understand that scheduling would be unpredictable and that they would typically need to be available at the drop of a dime. Develop on-call policies so that they know what’s expected and your organization is in a position to be able to handle last minute call outs.
4. Implement A Communication Tool
Whether it’s through email, phone or through the scheduling software, employees should have a way that they can communicate with schedules. This makes it easy for employees to communicate about schedule changes and it ensures that both parties are well informed. Having a shift scheduling software options that include mobile access is a must-have in today’s busy and digital world.
5. Know How Your Facility Operates
Finally, knowing the ins and out of your facility is imperative. Schedulers should know at what time the demand will increase when possible and what employees are better suited for what shift so that the busiest slots are filled with medical providers who can effectively handle the demand. Of course, predictability is not always possible in urgent healthcare physician scheduling settings, which is where on-call physicians can help.
By following these tips, you can make your healthcare workplace more efficient, whether you manage a specialty medical practice, urgent care center or even a large emergency department.
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