Automated Emails to Improve Evening Staffing for Anesthesiologists.

Area of Science:

• Medical Anesthesiology
• Healthcare Management
• Workforce Optimization

Background:

• Physician burnout is a significant concern, often linked to unpredictable work schedules.
• Strategies to improve scheduling predictability, such as voluntary relief shifts, aim to enhance work-life balance for anesthesiologists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an automated email reminder system in increasing participation in voluntary evening relief shifts.
• To determine if automation can improve the filling of relief shifts and expand the pool of participating anesthesiologists.

Main Methods:

• An automated email reminder system was implemented to notify anesthesiologists without assignments about unfilled relief shifts when high case volumes were anticipated.
• The system selectively sent reminders one day in advance to eligible anesthesiologists.

Main Results:

• The median number of providers working relief shifts increased from 1.75 to 2.6 per day after implementing the automated reminders.
• A total of 22 unique anesthesiologists participated in the program post-intervention.
• While the weekly average number of volunteers initially increased, it stabilized at a level higher than pre-intervention.

Conclusions:

• Automated email reminders are an effective tool for increasing anesthesiologist engagement in voluntary relief shift programs.
• Leveraging automation to match staffing needs with anticipated case volume enhances recruitment of relief personnel.
• This strategy contributes to improved end-of-day predictability and better work-life balance in anesthesiology departments.