At Relias Healthcare, we believe that solving challenges in emergency medicine takes more than just awareness, it takes the right people with the right tools, supported by a system that trusts them to lead.
Our Emergency Medicine Medical Directors are not only clinical leaders, but also strategic problem-solvers empowered to make informed, innovative changes that improve both patient care and provider experience.
One recent example comes from DCH Northport, where Dr. Nathan Hadley, Medical Director, tackled rising volumes, staffing strain, and inefficiencies in patient flow. With growing acuity and increasing operational complexity, Dr. Hadley proposed a new schedule structure that aligned provider coverage with actual patient demand – thanks in large part to data support provided by our internal analytics team.
Turning Data into Decisions: The Power of Interactive Heatmaps
Our Relias data team developed interactive arrival heatmaps that visualized ED patient volume patterns by hour and day of the week. These tools gave clinical leaders like Dr. Hadley clear, actionable insights into when patients were arriving, where coverage gaps existed, and how to better align staffing with surge times.
| 12AM | 1AM | 2AM | 3AM | 4AM | 5AM | 6AM | 7AM | 8AM | 9AM | 10AM | 11AM | 12PM | 1PM | 2PM | 3PM | 4PM | 5PM | 6PM | 7PM | 8PM | 9PM | 10PM | 11PM | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 108 |
| Monday | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 116 |
| Tuesday | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 111 |
| Wednesday | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 109 |
| Thursday | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 108 |
| Friday | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 106 |
| Saturday | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 102 |
| Total | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 108 |
“Having access to patient flow heatmaps made a huge difference,” said Dr. Hadley. “It confirmed what our teams were feeling on the ground and gave us the data to back up real schedule changes.”
Using these heatmaps, the Northport ED team redesigned shift structures-introducing strategically timed physician and APC shifts to reduce handoff delays, support high-volume periods, and prevent burnout. New shifts like a 2–10 p.m. mid-shift physician and 5–3 a.m. APC night support were added specifically to address gaps identified by the data.
The Results? Improved Flow, Smoother Transitions, and More Face-Time with Patients
This scheduling overhaul did more than just rearrange hours, it gave providers the space and structure to do what they do best: care for patients. With better coverage during peak hours and clearer role alignment, the team has seen improvements in documentation, patient throughput, and provider satisfaction.
It also reinforced a core Relias value: when you put the right information in the hands of clinical leaders, they’ll build the solutions.
Real-Time Collaboration, Real-World Impact
This is just one example of how Relias supports innovation at the bedside by blending data, flexibility, and frontline leadership. From flow optimization and role-specific scheduling to identifying early indicators of crowding, our goal is to provide every clinical team with the tools they need to succeed.
Because at Relias, we don’t just talk about being provider-first. We build systems that make it real.
Interested in joining a team where your ideas and your insights matter?
Learn more about our mission and clinical opportunities at www.reliashealthcare.com