Our Story
We talked resident well-being on A Dose of Optimism
Dr. Kevin Fang and Tyler Fong joined A Dose of Optimism to talk about why resident scheduling is a well-being problem, not just an admin problem.
Tyler Fong
5 min read
Blog
Notes from the schedule building process
How-to's, tips, and insights from the schedule building process
Our Story
How OSO Schedule started
An Associate Program Director and the husband of a chief resident set out to fix the 100-plus-hour block schedule—and took CHLA from about 70 percent of resident requests satisfied to over 90 percent.
Kevin Fang
3 min read
Workflow
Why residency schedules take weeks to build by hand
Chief residents often spend weeks reconciling coverage, conflicts, and requests by hand—here's why the work stretches so long and how a requirements-first loop shortens revisions.
Tyler Fong
5 min read
Workflow
Resident requests can't be an afterthought
Preferences only work when they shape the schedule alongside coverage and rules—not when they are squeezed into a finished draft.
Tyler Fong
5 min read
Benefits
One system for rules, requests, and iteration
When schedule rules and resident requests live in different tools, iteration becomes incredibly time-consuming. Keeping them in one system shortens the iteration loop dramatically.
Tyler Fong
5 min read
Comparison
Outsourced scheduling vs configuring it yourself
A balanced look at vendor-built schedules versus in-house rule configuration—and which fits your program's bandwidth.
Tyler Fong
5 min read
Benefits
Who should use residency scheduling software
A practical buyer guide to who benefits from residency scheduling software—and who is better off staying with spreadsheets.
Tyler Fong
5 min read
Workflow
Stop rebuilding the schedule process every year
When chiefs turn over, GME programs often rebuild scheduling from scratch—here's how to turn tribal knowledge into a repeatable process that survives the handoff.
Tyler Fong
5 min read
Benefits
Make the chief role more attractive
Scheduling process design is a leadership lever for who wants the chief job—not just an ops chore that drains the year.
Tyler Fong
5 min read
Comparison
Why Excel breaks when something changes mid-year
Excel works for simple residency schedules until mid-year leave, staffing shifts, or capacity changes cascade through implicit dependencies that only people—not the spreadsheet—remember.
Tyler Fong
5 min read
Tips
Build the schedule before the storm hits
How early planning and clear rules keep wellness intact when the year gets chaotic.
Tyler Fong
5 min read
Wellness
Why honoring resident requests reduces burnout
Preference-aware schedules are a wellness and operations lever—fewer callouts, steadier continuity, and less jeopardy strain—with ACGME and residency research to back it.
Tyler Fong
7 min read