How to Optimize Provider Scheduling and Communication for Radiology

Schedule Optimization and Equalization

With Lightning Bolt, PIA can now equalize all call assignments each time the schedule is built. Dr. Tang pushes a button to generate an accurate schedule that includes provider preferences and matches call demand while accommodating provider time off, shift-swap requests, and any other preferences expressed by individual clinicians. All changes are automatically reflected in the mobile application, meaning no provider is left with an outdated or incorrect schedule.

A scheduling workflow unique to PIA is the “swing shift,” where clinicians are on call all night and then switch to a daytime call shift. In Lightning Bolt, they can create this shift change as a “linking” rule, meaning their call assignment is automatically shifted over to the paging system, providing seamless clarity for providers—and the technologists working those shifts—through a dedicated phone number to reach the on-call doctor.

The link between Lightning Bolt and the paging system provides a single phone number to call day or night that routes to the correct person scheduled for that shift. For outside providers and technologists, this means no more searching the schedule to find who’s on shift or on call—they just dial one number to connect instantaneously with the right person. Additionally, by connecting this process to a single phone number that never changes, providers’ personal cell phone numbers are no longer posted all over the hospital.

Time Savings

Lightning Bolt has also helped PIA reduce the time it takes to build schedules. For Dr. Tang specifically, Lightning Bolt’s powerful auto-generative capabilities have saved “hours of time” each month, both during and after schedule creation, since he no longer has to make an unreasonable number of manual adjustments after the fact.

Reports and Analytics

Before Lightning Bolt, PIA either tracked tallies by hand or by working with one of the previous vendor’s consultants. For the latter option, this made the process dependent on consultant availability.

Now, Dr. Tang uses Lightning Bolt’s tally and reporting functionalities to make sure shifts are equalized among his clinicians.

This ensures that shifts balance among his clinicians over time and can be verified through reports as often as needed. He also creates shift reports to share with payroll, ensuring pay is transparent and accurate based on the true number of shifts worked.

“Lightning Bolt’s tally and reporting system is more intuitive, and it’s much easier to run the report I need,” Dr. Tang said.

Schedule Accessibility

Previously, manual scheduling workflows meant the PIA team had to refer to printed schedules. Today, the real-time schedule is always accessible through the Lightning Bolt desktop and mobile apps, meaning the most accurate schedule is just a click away (on desktop) or in the palm of each clinician’s hand (on mobile).

The schedule is also available through a public link with customizable views by assignment and staff. Hospital staff use the public link to know exactly which provider is on call and when. If clinicians choose to send it, the public link can also be made available to family members, friends, or other invested parties. With the public link, recipients have view-only access to the provider’s up-to-date schedule.

Back End Access

Lightning Bolt’s user-friendly interface has improved Dr. Tang’s ability to correctly design his department’s schedule from start to finish. Because he now has full administrative control over Lightning Bolt’s rules, he doesn’t have to rely on vendor assistance to make changes.

Superior Customer Service

Learning a new solution can seem daunting, but Lightning Bolt’s consistent customer-first approach and top-notch support team made the process much easier for Dr. Tang. With Lightning Bolt, he can expect to receive timely and thorough assistance whenever he needs it.