A survey of time management and particular tasks undertaken by consultant microbiologists in the UK.
BACKGROUND
Medical microbiology practice encompasses a diverse range of activities. Consultant medical microbiologists (CMMs) attribute widely differing priorities to, and spend differing proportions of time on various components of the job.


OBJECTIVE
To obtain a professional consensus on what are high-priority and low-priority activities, and to identify the time spent on low-priority activities.


METHODS
National survey.


RESULTS
Many respondents felt that time spent on report authorisation and telephoning of results was excessive, whereas time spent on ward-based work was inadequate. Timesaving could also be achieved through better prioritisation of infection-control activities.


CONCLUSIONS
CMMs should apportion their time at work focusing on high-priority activities identified through professional consensus.
Riordan
Terry
T
Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Church Lane, Heavitree, Exeter, UK. terry.riordan@rdeft.nhs.uk
Cartwright
Keith
K
Cunningham
Richard
R
Logan
Margaret
M
Wright
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008829:Microbiology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013689:Telephone; D017748:Time Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006113:United Kingdom