Theatre list allocation software for anaesthesia and surgical departments

Theatre list allocation is the weekly job of matching anaesthetists and surgeons to operating lists so that every list has the right sub-specialty skills, the right seniority for supervision, and a fair share of the desirable and undesirable sessions. HosPortal’s clinical allocations module was built for it by an anaesthetist and is used by more than 40 anaesthetic departments in Australia and New Zealand.

Why lists are harder than shifts

A theatre list is a session with requirements attached: a paediatric list needs a paediatric-credentialed anaesthetist, a cardiac list needs cardiac skills and often a second pair of hands, a trainee on a list needs a supervisor whose own list is nearby. Lists change when surgeons take leave, when a theatre closes, and when an emergency case displaces the elective programme. Quotas matter too: the department has agreed how many lists each consultant does, and how the popular sessions rotate.

How HosPortal allocates lists

  • Skills and credentials on every clinician. Define competencies (paediatric, obstetric, cardiac, regional, neuro) and attach them to lists; only eligible clinicians can be allocated, and gaps are flagged.
  • Supervision built in. Supervision rules decide who may supervise whom and at what level; a trainee on a list without cover is flagged before publishing.
  • Quotas by session. Set quotas per clinician per list type or per theatre session and let self-rostering or the AI builder honour them.
  • Sessions alongside everything else. Lists sit on the same roster as on-call, clinics and leave, so a consultant’s week is visible in one view and clashes are impossible to miss.
  • Rebuild when the programme changes. Migrate a session’s time, vacate slots, or reallocate a whole day; changes notify only the people affected.
  • Reports for the department meeting. List counts, supervision coverage and quota compliance over any date range, scheduled to email if wanted.

See the Anaesthesia and Surgical pages, the Clinical Allocations feature, and the guide How to set fair theatre-list quotas.

Frequently asked questions

What is theatre list allocation software?

Software that assigns anaesthetists and surgeons to operating lists according to sub-specialty skills, supervision requirements and agreed quotas, and keeps those allocations consistent with the department’s on-call and leave roster.

Can HosPortal restrict a list to clinicians with a particular skill?

Yes. Competencies are recorded per clinician and required per list; the roster only offers eligible people and flags any list left without the required skill.

How does HosPortal manage trainee supervision in theatre?

Supervision rules define who may supervise whom and at what level, and every trainee list must have a supervisor that satisfies them before the roster can be published.

Can consultants pick their own lists?

Yes, within quotas. Departments commonly run a preference or selection round for lists, with HosPortal enforcing per-person and per-session quotas so the popular lists rotate fairly.

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