Considerations for Defining Availability of Slots

There are two ways in which you can define availability for work types at a service territory: time slots and shifts. Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods of defining availability.

Time Slots

Time slots are created for service territories as a whole. All work types assigned to a service territory are performed in the same time slots.

Advantage: Time slots are active for a long period. For example, if a work type involves a vaccination drive with follow-up doses every 6 months, you can create time slots that last the entire period.

Disadvantage: Time slots are the same for all work types performed at a service territory. For example, if you have both apheresis and manufacturing being performed at the same hospital, their time slots are always at the same time.

Shifts

Shifts are created for work types.

Advantage: You can define separate shifts for different work types. For example, even if apheresis and manufacturing are performed at the same hospital, they can have different slots based on their shifts.

Disadvantage: Shifts can’t be used for extended periods of time. Recurring shifts can help you define availability for up to 3 months, but not beyond that time period.