Lightning Bolt, now PerfectServe Lightning Bolt Scheduling, is a cloud-based, AI-optimized physician and provider scheduling solution. Unlike simple digital scheduling tools, it utilizes a mathematical process called combinatorial optimization to rapidly generate the best possible schedule from millions of variations, ensuring gapless coverage and optimal resource utilization. It was founded in 2002 and acquired by PerfectServe in 2019, integrating its powerful scheduling engine with PerfectServe's clinical communication and collaboration (CC&C) platform.
The software is designed for hospitals, health systems, and medical practices of all sizes, managing over three million physician hours monthly. It significantly reduces the time spent on manual scheduling (up to 82-90% reduction) by allowing administrators to set custom, rule-based automation (handling over 400 rules per client) that incorporate individual provider preferences, skill sets, and organizational requirements.
Key Benefits:
- Reduce Burnout: Improves provider satisfaction and work-life balance through equitable shift distribution and flexible shift swaps.
- Increase Efficiency: Automates schedule creation, reducing administrative workload by up to 90%.
- Enhance Patient Access: Optimizes staffing to align provider supply with patient demand.
- Single Source of Truth: Provides real-time, accurate on-call schedules across the entire enterprise, integrating seamlessly with communication systems.
The platform is recognized as a Best in KLAS leader for physician scheduling.