Every physician in a hospital works based on schedule. Some are relaxed, some are flexible, and some are tight and tedious. Currently, emergency physicians fall under the latter category. Due to the number of patients that visit the ER department, emergency physicians are required to always be available, and it is the emergency physician schedule that is used to determine the availability, effectiveness, and more of the physicians.
However, just as emergency physician scheduling has its pros; it also has its cons. In this article, we will examine the pros and cons of emergency physician schedules and how scheduling software can improve shift scheduling.
Pros and Cons of an emergency physician schedule
Here are some of the pros of an emergency physician schedule for your emergency department:
Timely availability of needed physicians.
One of the main pros of an emergency physician schedule is the continuous and timely availability of needed physicians. With an emergency physician schedule, there will always be a physician available and ready to respond to patients.
Improved workflow of physicians.
With an emergency physician schedule, ER physicians will be able to schedule appointments at times that are convenient for them and their patients, helping them plan their workday and concentrate as best as possible.
Better productivity.
The use of emergency physician schedules leads to better productivity among ER physicians. Due to the timeslots, arrangements, rest intervals, and more included in the schedules, emergency physicians can maintain a high level of effectiveness, efficiency, and focus during their shifts. This, in turn, leads to overall productivity in the treatment of patients.
Here are some of the cons of an emergency physician schedule
Irregular hours.
Irregular hours are one of the biggest drawbacks associated with emergency physician schedules. Emergency physicians frequently fill shifts to ensure that patients receive 24-hour a day, seven days a week care. This can necessitate them working irregular hours or working nights, on weekends, or during holidays, which can impact work-life balance.
High stress.
Due to the irregular hours on the emergency physician schedules, emergency physicians are at a high risk of being stressed, burnt-out, and emotionally exhausted, thereby impacting their overall well-being, satisfaction, and effectiveness.
Limited control of the schedule.
Emergency physicians have very limited control over their schedule because of the irregularity and unpredictability of the ER department. This lack of control can lead to frustration and make it challenging to schedule personal activities or commitments ahead of time.
How Scheduling Software Can Help
Here are some ways physician scheduling software can help the emergency department:
Saves time.
Physicians or schedulers no longer need to spend hours creating or updating schedules. Automated physician scheduling software can save administrative time and increase efficiency, allowing emergency departments to provide the best possible treatment.
Reduces errors.
Scheduling software eliminates the constant errors associated with the manual creation of emergency physician schedules. Having automation features, the schedules created are accurate, satisfactory, and adhere to regulatory requirements.
Increases physician productivity.
With scheduling software, physicians are able to know when they are scheduled to work because the schedules are available online and updated in real-time. Each physician has access to their schedule and also has control over it, thereby leading to enhanced productivity, better performance, enhanced work-life balance, and increased staff retention.
Provides fewer scheduling conflicts.
Emergency medicine scheduling software can help lower the chances of schedule mix-ups. It does this by automating workforce adjustments, optimizing schedules, allocating shifts, and tracking coverage. It can also assist in staying compliant and managing employee leave and off-duty requests.
Offers enhanced communication.
Scheduling software enhances communication between emergency physicians and schedulers. Physicians will be able to easily communicate shift/request changes, swap shifts, leave/vacation requests, and more through the software. Schedulers will be able to easily incorporate these changes, building better communication and a happy healthcare team.
Conclusion
To get the best out of an emergency physician schedule, incorporate scheduling software. This is a significant step toward addressing the seen and unseen issues associated with manual emergency physician scheduling.
Visit us today at ByteBloc to get your physician scheduling software.
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