Artificial intelligence can automatically generate fair and flexible schedules that support a greater work-life balance for physicians, which may help alleviate burnout.
Stress and anxiety related to the pandemic, increasing workloads and bureaucratic tasks have created an epidemic, with nearly half of doctors now feeling burned out. Ochsner Health noticed a similar trend among its anesthesiologists in the form of low engagement scores and implemented an AI-based system to try and afford specialists more time off.
Improvements came quick, the authors noted, giving physicians extra vacation days, greater flexibility, more predictable schedules and fewer denied days off. The findings were presented over the weekend at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Advance 2022 event.
“We implemented AI scheduling of anesthesiologists in 2018 to increase control and flexibility and quickly saw the benefits,” lead author Dhruv Choudhry, MD, an anesthesiology resident at Ochsner Health, said in a statement. “On average, the scheduling allows our anesthesiologists to have one or two mornings and one or two afternoons off a month to allow for increased work-life balance, so they are better able to attend events important to them.”
Under the previous system, staff used an Excel spreadsheet to develop schedules, which typically could be changed once or twice after incorporating vacation requests, early vs. late shifts and other tweaks.
After implementing the AI scheduler, engagement scores among 60 anesthesiologists increased from 3.3 to 4.5 out of 5, on average. The gains reflect an improved relationship between Ochsner and its physicians, which often leads to better patient care and safety, lower costs and greater retention rates, the authors noted.
The new system also worked well during COVID-19 surges, according to the researchers, with physician engagement scores holding steady throughout the height of the pandemic.
“While the staff-created schedule took 60 hours to 75 hours per month, the AI system generates the schedule over a 14-hour period and essentially generates an unlimited number of combinations to deliver the best schedule option for the department,” Choudhry added. “Our physicians understand that a long day or week will be reciprocated in the future with a shorter day or week, which was not possible with the previous system.”
Mary joined TriMed Media in 2003. She was the founding editor and editorial director of Health Imaging, Cardiovascular Business, Molecular Imaging Insight and CMIO, now known as Clinical Innovation + Technology. Prior to TriMed, Mary was the editorial director of HealthTech Publishing Company, where she had worked since 1991. While there, she oversaw four magazines and related online media, and piloted the launch of two magazines and websites. Mary holds a master’s in journalism from Syracuse University. She lives in East Greenwich, R.I., and when not working, she is usually running around after her family, taking photos or cooking.