Guides, comparisons and stories on residency scheduling
How-to guides for chiefs and coordinators, side-by-side looks at scheduling software, case studies from programs like Boston Children’s and UVA, and Chiefly updates.
ACGME duty hour rules for residents (2026): 80 hours, 24+4 and the proposed changes
Every ACGME duty hour limit in the July 1, 2026 Common Program Requirements, with section numbers: how the 80-hour average really works, the 24+4 rule, time off, call, and what ACGME’s proposed revision for 2028 would change.
Read the guideResidency block schedule software: build the rotation schedule from your rules
Chiefly builds the annual residency block schedule from your program’s rules, re-runs it around leave and off-cycle residents, tracks each resident’s graduation requirements, and rolls everything into next year. Here is how it works and what programs have seen.
Read the guideHow chief residents make the block schedule, step by step
Chief residents usually build the year’s block schedule with no scheduling training. Here is the order that works, from gathering requirements to managing changes, plus how long it takes, when to finish, call and holiday call, and common mistakes.
Read the guideResidency scheduling service or software: why not both?
Most residency schedules are built by chief residents, and scheduling by hand takes about half their year. Here is how spreadsheets, self-serve software and done-for-you services compare with Chiefly, which is both residency scheduling software and a service, and what to ask any vendor.
Read the guideMaternity and parental leave in residency: ACGME rules and who covers the schedule
Residents get at least six weeks of paid medical, parental and caregiver leave in each ACGME-accredited program. What the ACGME and specialty boards require, who covers call while a resident is out, and how chiefs rebuild the schedule.
Read the guideBest residency scheduling software: how to choose in 2026
In most residency programs, the planning, building and tinkering still happen in Excel, and Amion, QGenda, ShiftAdmin and Lightning Bolt mostly publish the result. Here is how the tools differ, what residency scheduling software should do, and what to ask in a demo.
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