Operations Research for Pediatric Elective Surgery Planning: Example of a Mathematical Model

Area of Science:

• Operations Research
• Healthcare Management
• Mathematical Modeling

Background:

• Operating room (OR) management is a critical area in healthcare operations research.
• Scheduling elective surgeries in pediatric and teaching hospitals presents unique challenges due to frequent disruptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a mathematical programming model for scheduling day hospital (DH) patients in a pediatric setting.
• To address disruptions such as emergencies and same-day cancellations.
• To define an optimal rescheduling process.

Main Methods:

• Developed an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) based approach.
• Created a nominal schedule considering waiting lists and clinical priorities.
• Designed backup schedules for rapid recovery from disruptions.
• Enumerated potential disruption scenarios (emergencies, no-shows) and developed corresponding backup plans.

Main Results:

• The proposed model effectively manages disruptions, minimizing deviations from the nominal schedule.
• An as-soon-as-possible policy was implemented for emergency situations to ensure timely patient care.
• The approach demonstrated effectiveness in managing waiting lists with a balanced mix of patient urgency.

Conclusions:

• The mathematical model provides an effective solution for OR patient scheduling in pediatric hospitals.
• The approach successfully balances efficiency with the need for timely care amidst disruptions.
• This method ensures proper management of waiting lists and patient priorities in complex healthcare environments.