[Real-time scheduling. Assistance in resource planning].
BACKGROUND
A radiology group practice with 50 physicians in 15 different locations required an integrated appointment planning system.


OBJECTIVE
The project aimed at implementation of software for resources and appointment planning in a radiology information system (RIS) and the first complete implementation in the German-speaking world.


METHODS
The practical aspects involved the definition of diagnostic features, documentation of personnel knowledge and digitization, definition and establishment of interfaces between the appointment calendar and the RIS and definition of access privileges.


CONCLUSIONS
Problems included a high technical complexity (more than 50 interfaces), complex data material and time-consuming process (approximately 2000 working hours and total duration 9 months).


RESULTS
Implementation of the system resulted in faster appointment assignment (90-120 s versus 3-5 min, 6-sigma measurement), higher data quality, excellent stability (as yet no system breakdown), reduced waiting times, higher personnel efficiency and improved utilization of instruments.
radprax MVZ GmbH, Bergstr. 7-9, 42105, Wuppertal, Deutschland, ahoppen@radprax.de.
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Hoppen
D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003199:Computer Systems; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005858:Germany; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D040841:Resource Allocation / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D012986:Software Validation; D014584:User-Computer Interface