Accounting for inpatient wards when developing master surgical schedules.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Operations Research
• Hospital Management
• Surgical Scheduling

Background:

• Increasing healthcare demand necessitates improved patient flow.
• The master surgical schedule (MSS) significantly impacts inpatient wards, affecting cancellations, workload, and resource utilization.
• Modeling the MSS-ward relationship is crucial for optimizing hospital operations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a new master surgical schedule (MSS) for a hospital.
• To improve patient flow, reduce surgery cancellations, balance workload, and enhance resource utilization.
• To utilize an operational research model for selecting an optimal MSS.

Main Methods:

• An operational research model was developed in collaboration with hospital staff.
• Multiple MSS proposals were evaluated using the model and refined through iterative staff feedback.
• The model provided insights into ward admissions and occupancy based on MSS modifications.

Main Results:

• A new MSS was selected, achieving balanced ward occupancy and staff acceptance.
• Post-implementation analysis confirmed balanced ward occupancy through bed-use statistics.
• The model facilitated quantitative analysis, supporting negotiation and selection of the new MSS.

Conclusions:

• The operational research model, combined with staff input, provided quantitative support for MSS optimization.
• The developed model is repeatable in other hospitals using readily available data.
• This approach transforms subjective discussions into data-driven decisions for improved hospital management.