Improving chemotherapy infusion operations through the simulation of scheduling heuristics: a case study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Healthcare Operations Research
• Clinical Workflow Optimization

Background:

• Chemotherapy administration has largely transitioned to outpatient settings, with nearly 90% of infusions now performed in outpatient clinics.
• This shift necessitates efficient clinic operations to maximize patient throughput within fixed timeframes.

Observation:

• Current clinic scheduling often involves all patients arriving simultaneously, leading to potential bottlenecks.
• Discrete event simulation modeling was used to analyze clinic workflow based on historical data and staff input.

Findings:

• Altering the fixed 8:00 AM arrival schedule to staggered appointments based on expected infusion duration can improve efficiency.
• Simulation identified multiple scheduling policies that effectively reduce average patient waiting times and nurse overtime.

Implications:

• Implementing optimized, staggered appointment scheduling can enhance the capacity and efficiency of outpatient chemotherapy clinics.
• These findings offer practical strategies for improving patient experience and operational performance in oncology settings.