Irregular Recurring Appointment Scheduling via GUI Matrix
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic health record (EHR) systems are ill-equipped to assist healthcare workers in scheduling irregular recurring blocks of time, requiring manual and error-prone entry of dates and times, which is burdensome and not suitable for complex or long-term scheduling.
Innovation Solution
A computer-executable scheduling application, integrated with EHR systems, uses a graphical user interface to allow healthcare workers to define and manage irregular recurring schedules, automatically releasing unused blocks for more efficient resource allocation in healthcare settings like operating rooms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional scheduling modules are used for regular recurring blocks (daily, weekly, monthly), then scheduling efficiency is maintained, but the system cannot handle irregular recurring blocks (e.g., every second Tuesday and every fourth Wednesday)
Solution Approach 1:
The scheduling system segments the irregular recurrence pattern into individual selectable date instances within a monthly calendar view. Users can see and select specific dates (e.g., every second Tuesday, every fourth Wednesday) rather than defining complex recurrence rules, breaking down the complex scheduling task into simple date selections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a linear time-based recurrence model to a two-dimensional monthly calendar grid where irregular patterns become visually representable. This dimensional change allows users to select non-consecutive dates across different weeks and days of the week within the same month, enabling irregular patterns without complex rules.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual entry of each date and time is required for irregular blocks, then scheduling precision is achieved, but the workload and error rate increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-generates all possible date instances for irregular patterns within a monthly view before user selection. Dates corresponding to every second Tuesday, every fourth Wednesday, and other irregular patterns are automatically calculated and displayed, eliminating the need for users to manually compute or enter each date, thus maintaining accuracy while reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The scheduling system automatically calculates and populates irregular recurrence dates based on user-defined patterns (e.g., every Nth day of week X). The system serves itself by generating the complete schedule without requiring manual entry of each date, reducing both time consumption and potential for human error while maintaining precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If scheduling blocks are reserved in advance for long-term planning, then resource allocation predictability improves, but unused blocks cannot be released for other uses
Solution Approach 1:
The scheduling system implements dynamic block management where reserved scheduling blocks can be automatically released based on actual usage. When a scheduled block is not used, the system dynamically updates the calendar to release those blocks, allowing other healthcare workers to pick them up. This dynamic adjustment maintains predictability for planned schedules while improving resource utilization through automatic release of unused blocks.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are various technologies pertaining to generating and/or updating a schedule such that the schedule includes a recurring appointment. The schedule is generated and/or updated based upon inputs received at a GUI that includes a matrix of checkboxes, such that the schedule is able to be constructed to include a recurring appointment for an Nth occurrence of a selected day in each month.