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Decision support algorithms for optimizing surgery start times considering the performance variation

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Abstract

In this paper, we consider a stochastic optimization model for a surgical scheduling problem with a single operating room. The goal is to determine the optimal start times of multiple elective surgeries within a single day. The term “optimal” is defined as the largest surgically related utility value while achieving a given threshold defined by the performance variation of a reference solution. The optimization problem is analytically intractable because it involves quantities such as expectation and variance formulations. This implies that traditional mathematical programming techniques cannot be directly applied. We propose a decision support algorithm, which is a fully sequential procedure using variance screening in the first phase, and then employing multiple attribute utility theory to select the best solution in the second phase. The numerical experiments show that the proposed algorithm can find a promising solution in a reasonable amount of time.

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Notes

  1. In Scenario 2 with 4 surgeries, the number of candidate schedules can be computed by (h3 − 6h2 + 11h − 6)/6.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Editor-in-Chief, Professor Gregory S. Zaric, the associate editor and two anonymous referees for their insightful and detailed comments that have significantly improved this paper. This research was funded by Chung-Kang Branch, Cheng-Ching General Hospital Research Fund, grant number CH10400182.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial and Information Management, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Shing Chih Tsai & Wu Hung Lin

  2. Department of Nursing, Chung-Kang Branch, Cheng Ching General Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan

    Chia Cheng Wu

  3. Department of Industrial Engineering and Enterprise Information, Tunghai University, Taichung City, Taiwan

    Shao Jen Weng

  4. Center of Management, Chung-Kang Branch, Cheng Ching General Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan

    Ching Fen Tang

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  1. Shing Chih Tsai
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  2. Wu Hung Lin
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  3. Chia Cheng Wu
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Correspondence to Chia Cheng Wu.

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Tsai, S.C., Lin, W.H., Wu, C.C. et al. Decision support algorithms for optimizing surgery start times considering the performance variation. Health Care Manag Sci 25, 208–221 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10729-021-09580-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10729-021-09580-2

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