State of Practice: Shifted Week Resident Rotations in Neuroradiology

Area of Science:

• Medical education research
• Radiology residency programs
• Work schedule optimization

Background:

• Alternative work schedules offer flexibility for trainees and service coverage.
• Continuous evaluation is crucial for balancing educational goals, staffing, and resident wellness.
• Balancing education, staffing, and personal needs requires creativity and compromise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and impact of a pilot Sunday-Thursday neuroradiology rotation.
• To assess resident perceptions of educational value and quality of life.
• To measure the effect of the shifted schedule on productivity and performance outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of a pilot Sunday-Thursday neuroradiology rotation (July 2022-January 2026).
• Resident perceptions assessed via pre- and post-implementation surveys and end-of-rotation evaluations.
• Productivity measured by case volume and work relative value units; performance by neuroradiology in-training exam scores and report turnaround times.

Main Results:

• The Sunday-Thursday schedule met educational, staffing, and contrast coverage needs.
• Overall resident call frequency was reduced.
• Residents reported high satisfaction, improved educational value, and stable or improved quality of life.

Conclusions:

• The shifted neuroradiology rotation successfully balanced educational, staffing, and resident wellness needs.
• Resident satisfaction and perceived educational value increased with the alternative schedule.
• Key performance indicators including faculty supervision and report turnaround times remained comparable to traditional schedules.