title: A paradigm for computer-assisted radiology resident rotation scheduling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The scheduling of radiology residents remains a major annual undertaking of chief residents. In this article, we describe a paradigm to implement interactive computer programs to reduce the inefficiencies and inequities of planning the yearly schedule.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the programming language, Prolog, to develop a compact program that provides faster and more flexible performance than those reported in the literature. This interactive program stores scheduling requirements in data files separated from the control program and runs on a Macintosh computer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The schedule of any residency year is generated within 3-7 sec. The fast computation and query capabilities of this scheduling program have helped chief residents to identify conflicting requirements that were previously overlooked.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using our programming paradigm, we have developed a portable Prolog-based scheduling program that is quick and easy to use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0628, USA.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arenson
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ostrow
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gerson
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011381:Programming Languages; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D012984:Software / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States