A Prototype Operating Room Scheduling System

Mari ITO, Atsuo SUZUKI, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA
2016 Journal of Japan Industrial Management Association  
We introduce an estimation method for calculating operation durations using regression analysis and a mixed-integer programming model for the operating room (OR) scheduling problem. We develop an OR scheduling system and apply it to OR scheduling at Aichi Medical University Hospital. The goals of scheduling are to reduce staff overtime, schedule changes, and OR reassignment. We attain this by scheduling according to predicted operation durations. The resulting schedule makes highly efficient
more » ... lization of the OR. We confirm the efficiency of the schedules obtained by comparing them to schedules created manually . over, delayed operation starting times increase the probability of overtime, further increasing costs [5]. Our proposed system is expected to reduce costs by generating better OR schedules where the probability of overtime is low. The quality of OR schedules is among the most important issues in OR management; improved OR scheduling not only decreases patient waiting times, but also lessens the workload of surgeons and anesthesiologists, and reduces overtime. It also increases the effectiveness of OR utilization, which may partially resolve the problem of OR shortages. The OR scheduling problem has been studied by many researchers. For instance, Lamiri et al. [6] formulated OR scheduling to minimize overtime costs using a stochastic model, proposing a Monte Carlo optimization method that consists of Monte Carlo simulation and mixed-integer programming. Denton et al. [7] proposed stochastic optimization models for OR scheduling, describing two models: a two-stage stochastic linear programming model that includes a resource problem and a more robust counterpart that can find OR scheduling solutions faster than the two-stage model can. There are also many case studies that consider hospital characteristics. Blake and Donald [8] solved the OR scheduling problem at Mount Sinai Hospital by using an integer programming model. This approach greatly influenced the scheduling process at the hospital; it 202 J Jpn Ind Manage Assoc
doi:10.11221/jima.67.202 fatcat:zv2jqqcnbvfi5jhy5kyb5jkxuy