> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.planmyrounds.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Setting up pods

> Pods are an optional sub-grouping within a department, useful for organising large teams and scoping Auto Duty, rosters, and the leave calendar.

A **pod** is a small, optional sub-group within a department, for example splitting a large *Internal Medicine* department into *Pod A* and *Pod B*. If your department already fits comfortably on one roster, you likely don't need pods at all.

<Note>
  Pods are independent of [location](/docs/team/locations) and department. See [Setting up departments](/docs/team/departments) for how the three compare.
</Note>

## Create a pod

Unlike departments and locations, a pod doesn't have its own settings screen. You create one the first time you assign a doctor to it.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the doctor's profile">
    Go to **Doctors**, open the doctor, and select **Edit**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a new pod">
    Under **Pod**, type a name that doesn't match an existing pod. PlanMyRounds offers to create it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Select the new pod, then save the profile. The pod is now available to select for other doctors too.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Reassign doctors between pods in bulk

For moving several doctors at once, open **Pod x Shift Management** to work with pods as a board rather than one profile at a time.

<Warning>
  The board itself is a temporary view: the boards and shifts you add to it aren't saved, and are lost on refresh. Moving a doctor's card between pod columns is different: that change is saved immediately to the doctor's profile and affects future roster generation. You'll be asked to confirm before any move is applied.
</Warning>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Set a date range">
    Use the date pickers at the top to choose the period you're reorganising for.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add boards">
    Select **Add Board** (up to five). Add one or more pods and shifts to each board so you can see who's currently assigned where.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Drag to reassign">
    Drag a doctor's card from one pod column to another. Confirm the change when prompted.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Where pods are used

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Auto Duty" icon="robot">
    Part of the doctor pool filter, alongside department and location. See [How Auto Duty Planning works](/docs/auto-duty-planning/overview#what-an-auto-duty-covers).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rosters" icon="user-group">
    Filter by pod in [team selection](/docs/rosters/creating-a-roster#step-3-team-selection) when building a roster.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Leave Calendar" icon="calendar-days">
    Filter everyone's leave by pod, alongside department, doctor, and seniority.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  There's no separate delete option for a pod. If one is no longer in use, simply stop assigning doctors to it.
</Note>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Update a doctor's profile" icon="id-card" href="/docs/team/doctor-profiles">
    Assign a doctor to a pod.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Setting up departments" icon="briefcase" href="/docs/team/departments">
    The larger grouping a pod sits inside.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>