HealthRota: An evaluation of a digital rostering platform for managing hospital doctors

Introduction

In order to provide safe, high-quality hospital care, it is essential that doctors are optimally deployed. Digital platforms for rostering doctors improves both the quality of hospital care and the wellbeing of doctors. We evaluated the usability and acceptability of the HealthRota© e-rostering system.

Methods

We circulated an electronic survey among doctors with current/previous experience of using HealthRota, and measured usability (with a system usability score (SUS)) and acceptability. We collected data on how doctors believed HealthRota affected wellbeing, patient safety and training.

Results

There were 209 responses (67 non-training clinical fellows, 114 training doctors and 27 consultants) from an estimated 350 doctors who have used HealthRota. Overall, the median SUS score was 86/100 (interquartile range (IQR) 75–97), and there were no differences by role (p=0.118), age (p=0.632) or years of experience (p=0.963). The median Likert score for recommending HealthRota to a colleague was 5/5 (IQR 4–5). There were no differences in role (p=0.477), age (p=0.904) or years of experience (p=0.930). Doctors suggested that HealthRota improves patient safety (4/5 (IQR 3–5)), junior doctor training (4/5 (IQR 3–5)), doctor wellbeing (4/5 (IQR 3–5)) and out-of-hours cover (4/5 (IQR 3–5)).

Conclusion

HealthRota is usable and acceptable to doctors and improved the quality of patient care and doctor wellbeing. This serves as evidence to broaden the use of HealthRota.