Table 3

Categorization of job tasks

Task name

Description

Internal communication/Meetings

Conversation with physicians or other medical staff; advanced training

Documentation and Administrative tasks

Writing discharge letters, administrative work, daily notes, disability letters

Ward round/Admission to hospital

Examination in the sickbed by one or several doctors; obtaining patient history and examining patients when they enter the hospital

Indirect patient care

Chart rounds, literature research, charging infusion plans, evaluation of findings

Direct patient care

Clinical examinations, scientifically documented tests

Communication with patients

Face-to-face communication with the patient, family meetings

Resting period: "breaks"

Time of recovery (e.g. lunch), bathroom breaks

Walking around

Walking around between tasks

Work obstacles

Searching for documents, waiting for patients, reports, computer problems

Teaching

Activities of educating medical students

Miscellaneous

Time spent on personal activities (e.g. changing working clothes)

Mache et al. Human Resources for Health 2009 7:41   doi:10.1186/1478-4491-7-41