Days off in Randomizer

emchief1

I am using MedRez.net to schedule shifts in the ED for my residency program. It works very well, except for one thing that I have not been able figure out. Is there a way to set the minimum number of days off at a time to 2? The randomizer keeps making schedules where a resident will work two long stretches of 4-5 shfts in a row with only 1 day off between them in some parts of the schedule. In others, it has a resident working only 1 day in a seven-day stretch.

Is there are way to make a rule regarding minimum number of days off in a row, a number of days off per week not averaged over the month, or any other way to ensure that someone who, for instance, works 5 day shifts in a row has 2 days off before they start a new stretch of 4 or 5 shifts in a row?

Thank you,

Dave Nickerson

admin

Hello Dave Nickerson,

As we talked about over the phone yesterday, when the Randomizer runs it attempts to fill all shifts without breaking any duty hour rules. Then, it tries to satisfy Tally Targets and then it attempts to make the individual schedules better by smoothing out the day-to-night transitions, and the gaps between periods of work.

Therefore, if it is having a hard time meeting Tally Targets, it will make very little attempt at improving the individual resident schedules. If your Tally Targets don't reach 100% by the middle of the run and you have the option to loosen them, that should help.

As far as rules go, I'll consider that possibility when I revisit that part of the program.

Regards,

Olivier Forget
Owner and Developer
MedRez.net Scheduling Tool