---
title: Distribution Engine Guide
description: Learn how to configure and use the NewVue Distribution Engine for study assignment, priorities, user coverage, specialty preferences, and escalation.
---
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# Distribution Engine Guide
## A guide to configuring and using the NewVue Distribution Engine to automate study assignment, manage radiologist coverage, and balance workload and specialty preferences.
**Table of Contents**
[Overview](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Overview)
[My Reservations Worklist](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#MY_Res_Worklist)
[Distribution Engine Configuration](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Distribution_Engine_Configuration)
[Priority Configuration](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Priority_Configuration)
[Groups Management](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Groups_Management)
[User Coverage Models](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#User_Coverage_Models)
[Exam Selection](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Exam_Selection)
[Equity vs Best Fit](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Equity_vs_Best_Fit)
[Opportunity Bias](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Opportunity_Bias)
[User Caps](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#User_Caps)
[Specialty Preference Mapping](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Specialty_Preference_Mapping)
[Multiple Distribution Rules](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Multiple_Distribution_Rules)
[Session Timeout](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Session_Timeout)
[Current Limitations](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Current_Limitations)
[Permissions](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#Permissions)
Use the [⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC) icon to return to the TOC
### **Overview**
The Distribution Engine is a configurable workflow within NewVue that automatically reserves studies for radiologists rather than requiring them to browse shared worklists.
The Distribution Engine is designed to:
- Reduce time spent searching for studies
- Distribute work fairly
- Route studies to the most appropriate radiologist
- Escalate urgent studies when necessary
When enabled, radiologists primarily work from the **My Reservations** worklist.
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **My Reservations Worklist**
When the Distribution Engine is enabled, users receive a **My Reservations** worklist.
The worklist includes three controls:
- **Start** – Begin receiving assignments
- **Pause** – Temporarily stop receiving new assignments
- **Stop** – Stop receiving assignments entirely
The worklist contains two categories of exams: **Reserved** and **Emergent**.
**Reserved**
Reserved exams are:
- Assigned specifically to a radiologist
- Intended to be that radiologist's primary reading queue
- Still visible on standard worklists
A Reserved exam indicates that the study is intended for a specific radiologist.
**Emergent**
Emergent exams are:
- Visible to all eligible radiologists
- Intended for urgent studies
- Used for escalation when a Reserved study is not read in time
Examples may include:
- Stroke
- Trauma
- Exams whose SLA timer has expired
Emergent exams indicate that the study is available for any eligible radiologist to read.
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **Distribution Engine Configuration**
The **Distribution Algorithm Configuration** controls how studies are assigned to eligible radiologists.
**Studies Displayed to Users**
The system can reserve studies in the background while displaying only a configured number of studies to the user at one time.
This allows:
- Users to maintain some choice in what they read
- The system to rebalance assignments as new studies arrive
- Reduced worklist browsing
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **Priority Configuration**
Before studies can be distributed, priorities must be configured.
Examples include:
- Routine
- Escalated
- Emergent
- Stroke
- Trauma
Each priority can be configured as **Reserved** or **Emergent**.
**Reserved**
The study is assigned to a specific radiologist.
**Emergent**
The study is immediately visible to all eligible radiologists.
**Escalation**
Studies can move from **Reserved → Emergent** based on SLA timers.
For example:
1. A study is reserved for Dr. Smith.
2. The SLA timer expires.
3. The study becomes Emergent.
4. All eligible radiologists can see the study.
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **Groups Management**
**Groups Management** determines which user groups are eligible to participate in the Distribution Engine.
User groups are created and managed under **Dictionary Management → User Groups**. Once a group has been created, it becomes available for selection within the Distribution Engine configuration.
Select one or more groups to enable them for distribution. Only users who belong to an **enabled group** will be considered by the distribution algorithm.
Users who are not members of an enabled group will not be eligible to receive exams through the Distribution Engine.
Multiple groups can be enabled at the same time.
> **Important:** If no groups are selected, there will be **no eligible users** for distribution.
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **User Coverage Models**
The Distribution Engine supports two methods for determining which users are eligible to receive studies.
**Active User Coverage**
Active User Coverage uses:
- Users who are currently logged in
- User specialty mappings
- User preferences
This is the most common configuration when no scheduling integration exists.
**Scheduled Shift Coverage**
Scheduled Shift Coverage uses:
- External scheduling systems
- Shifts assigned to users
- Worklists attached to shifts
When Scheduled Shift Coverage is used, the Distribution Engine distributes studies only from worklists associated with the active shift.
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **Exam Selection**
The Distribution Engine can limit which exams participate in distribution.
**Exam Window**
The Exam Window determines how far back the Distribution Engine looks for eligible studies.
Examples include:
- Today only
- Previous 24 hours
- Previous 5 days
**Exam Status**
Exam statuses can also be included or excluded from distribution.
A common configuration is:
**Include**
- Completed
**Exclude**
- Arrived
- Started
- Preliminary
- Final
- Addendum
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **Equity vs Best Fit**
This setting determines whether the Distribution Engine prioritizes balanced workloads or specialty expertise when assigning studies.
**Equity First**
Equity First prioritizes:
- Fair distribution
- Balanced workloads
- Available capacity
This configuration emphasizes distributing work fairly among eligible radiologists.
**Best Fit First**
Best Fit First prioritizes:
- Specialty expertise
- Preferred readers
- Strong mappings
This configuration emphasizes assigning the exam to the most appropriate reader.
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **Opportunity Bias**
**Additional information required.**
This section should document:
- How Opportunity Bias influences assignment decisions
- Its relationship to Equity vs Best Fit
- Recommended use cases
- Example configurations
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **User Caps**
The Distribution Engine can limit the amount of work assigned to an individual radiologist.
Caps may be configured using **Case Count** or **RVU**.
**Case Count**
Limits assignments based on the number of studies.
Example:
- 20 studies per day
**RVU**
Limits assignments based on an RVU threshold.
Example:
- Stop assigning studies after the user reaches the configured RVU threshold
As a user completes studies, the queue replenishes automatically until the configured cap is reached.
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **Specialty Preference Mapping**
Specialty Preference Mapping controls how strongly the Distribution Engine should favor or exclude a user when assigning studies.
| **Preference** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| **Primary** | Strongly prefer this user |
| **Neutral** | Assign normally |
| **Last Resort** | Assign only if necessary |
| **Never** | Never assign |
In general:
- **Primary** readers receive studies first.
- **Neutral** readers participate normally in distribution.
- **Last Resort** readers receive studies only when necessary.
- **Never** readers are excluded entirely.
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **Multiple Distribution Rules**
Organizations can create multiple distribution algorithms to support different staffing and coverage patterns.
For example:
**Weekday Rule**
- Monday–Friday
- Best Fit
- Strict specialty matching
**Weekend Rule**
- Saturday–Sunday
- Equity
- Broader assignment pool
This allows distribution behavior to change based on staffing and coverage requirements.
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **Session Timeout**
A session timeout can help prevent studies from remaining assigned to users who are no longer actively working.
If a user forgets to stop assignments:
- The client can be configured with a session timeout.
- Users are logged out after inactivity.
- Reserved studies may escalate to Emergent.
- Studies can redistribute.
This prevents studies from remaining indefinitely assigned to inactive users.
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **Current Limitations**
**Exam-Type-Specific Round Robin**
The Distribution Engine currently does **not** support:
- DEXA-only round robin
- Exam-type-specific distribution rules
- Exam-type filtering outside of scheduling integrations
Possible workarounds include:
- Specialty mappings
- Scheduling integrations
- Engineering enhancements
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
### **Permissions**
Users must have the following permission to access **My Reservations**:
**Tenant Exam Reservation User Access**
This permission allows users to:
- View My Reservations
- View Reserved exams
- View Emergent exams
- Participate in Distribution Engine workflows
[⬆](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/distribution-engine-guide#TOC)
- [How-To](https://support.newvue.ai/newvue-knowledge-base/how-to?hsLang=en)
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