title: An Innovative Approach to Resident Scheduling: Use of a Point-Based System to Account for Resident Preferences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The scheduling of residents for rotation assignments and on-call responsibilities is a time-consuming process that challenges the resources of residency programs. Assignment of schedules is traditionally done by chief residents or program administration with variable input from the residents involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  We introduced an innovative point-based scheduling system to increase transparency in the scheduling process, foster a sense of fairness and equality in scheduling, and increase resident ownership for making judicious scheduling choices.
  
  
  METHODS
  We devised a point-based system in which each resident in our 40-member program was allocated an equal number of points. The residents assigned these points to their preferred choices of rotations. Residents were then surveyed anonymously on their perceptions of this new scheduling system and were asked to compare it with their traditional scheduling system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The schedule was successfully implemented, and it allowed residents to express their scheduling preferences using an innovative point-based approach. Residents were generally satisfied with the new system, would recommend it to other programs, and perceived a greater sense of involvement. However, resident satisfaction with the new system was not significantly greater compared with the previous approach to scheduling (P = .20). Chief residents expressed satisfaction with the new scheduling model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Residents were equally satisfied with the traditional preference-based scheduling approach and the new point-based system. Chief residents' feedback on the new system reflected reduced stress and time commitment in the new point-based system.
authors.forename: Robert Tao-Ping
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Shrikant
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamhane
authors.forename: Manling
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lori-Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sameep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sehgal
authors.forename: Madel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lumbres
authors.forename: Ma Ai Thanda
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Win
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D016526:Workload