An integer-programming model and a post-solution heuristic allocates operating room time to the five surgical divisions at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital. The hospital has used this approach for several years credits it with both administrative savings ability produce quickly an equitable master schedule.

A common problem at hospitals with fixed amounts of available operating room (OR) time (i.e., "block time") is determining an equitable method distributing to surgical groups. Typically, facilities determine a group's share block using formulas based on OR utilization, contribution margin, or some other performance metric. Once each has been calculated, must be found for fitting allocated into the master schedule. This involves assigning specific ORs days week groups, usually objective...

Administrators routinely seek to increase contribution margin (revenue minus variable costs) better cover fixed costs, provide indigent care, and meet other community service responsibilities. Hospitals with high operating room (OR) utilizations can allocate OR time for elective surgery surgeons based partly on their margins per hour of time. This applies particularly when caseload is limited by nursing recruitment. From a hospital's annual accounting data cases, we calculated the following...

Abstract Background and Objectives There is concern about sustaining the O negative blood supply, especially in areas with many rural/remote hospitals like British Columbia. Red cells are perishable, making inventory management challenging. Demand must be met without wasting this precious resource. Inventory challenges stem from data scarcity human factors. Transfusion medicine technologists, who manage daily, key to understanding factors management. We conducted a qualitative study...

This paper describes a study undertaken at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario to quantify issues surrounding delivery primary care through hospital’s emergency room. The project centres on discrete event simulation model room used investigate contributing wait time. Results indicate that patient time is affected by availability staff physicians and amount are required spend engaged in education medical residents. Based recommendations study, administration has implemented fast track...

A common problem at hospitals with fixed amounts of available operating room (OR) time (i.e., “block time”) is determining an equitable method distributing to surgical groups. Typically, facilities determine a group’s share block using formulas based on OR utilization, contribution margin, or some other performance metric. Once each has been calculated, must be found for fitting allocated into the master schedule. This involves assigning specific ORs days week groups, usually objective...

Background Administrators at hospitals with a fixed annual budget may want to focus surgical services on priority areas ensure its community receives the best health possible. However, many lack detailed managerial accounting data needed that such change does not increase operating costs. The authors used hospital cost database investigate by how much in allocations of room (OR) time among surgeons can perioperative variable Methods obtained financial for all patients who underwent...

Administrators routinely seek to increase contribution margin (revenue minus variable costs) better cover fixed costs, provide indigent care, and meet other community service responsibilities. Hospitals with high operating room (OR) utilizations can allocate OR time for elective surgery surgeons based partly on their margins per hour of time. This applies particularly when caseload is limited by nursing recruitment. From a hospital's annual accounting data cases, we calculated the following...

Background The topology of the blood supply chain network can take different forms in settings, depending on geography, politics, costs, etc. Many developed countries are moving towards centralized networks. goal for all distribution networks, regardless topology, remains same: to satisfy demand at minimal cost and wastage. Study Design Methods Mathematically, system design be viewed as a location‐allocation problem, where aim is find optimal location collection production facilities assign...

Background Since the 1970s red blood cells ( RBCs ) have had a rated shelf life of 42 days. Recently, studies suggested poorer patient outcomes when older is transfused. However, shortening may increase costs and lead to greater instances outdates shortages. Study Design Methods A simulation method evaluate impact shorter for on regional network was developed. model production distribution system in province Q uebec built validated. Results The suggests that 21 or 28 days will modest outdate...

The demand and supply of blood are highly variable over time. Blood inventory management that relies heavily on experience-based decisions may not be adaptive to real demand, leading high operational costs, wastage, shortages.We combined statistical modeling, machine learning, optimization methods develop a data-driven forecasting strategy for red cells (RBCs). We then used the inform daily orders. A secondary semi-weekly (twice per week) ordering was developed handle last-mile split...

A variety of approaches to reducing the environmental impact food production and consumption are being explored including technological solutions, such as produced via biotechnological processes. However, development these technologies requires significant upfront investment consumer acceptance is not guaranteed. The purpose this research develop a system dynamics model forecast demand, under multiple marketing quality scenarios, for foods novel technologies, using cellular agriculture case...

Hospitals with limited operating room (OR) hours, those intensive care unit or ward beds that are always full, have no incremental revenue for many patients need to choose which surgeons get the resources. Although such decisions based on internal financial reports, whether reports statistically valid is not known. Random error may affect surgeons' measured performance and, thus, what cases anesthesiologists do and receive care. We tested one fiscal year of surgeon-specific data sufficient...

Background C anadian B lood S ervices runs approximately 16,000 donor clinics annually. While there were more than 220 different clinic configurations used in 2011 and 2012, 67% of all followed one 51 standard models. As part operational planning for current future it was necessary to calculate staffing requirements Study Design Methods In this article we present a method that incorporates both cost control impact on experience. We minimize costs, but adjust using queuing theory ensure wait...

The regulatory shelf life for platelets (PLTs) in many jurisdictions is 5 days. PLT can be extended to 7 days with an enhanced bacterial detection algorithm. Enhanced testing, however, comes at a cost, which may offset by reductions wastage due longer life. This article describes method estimating systemwide outdates after extended.A simulation was used evaluate the impact of within national blood network. A network model Canadian Blood Services supply chain built and validated. from 6, 7, 8...

Indoor vertical farming (VF) systems are a form of controlled environment agriculture, making use technology to improve food availability and security while reducing environmental impacts. Commercially, it is young industry with potential disrupt the supply chain status quo but faced uncertainty risk respect product demand production efficacy. As result, VF firms must make decisions develop capacity that meets market ensuring long-term profitability. This research presents method for...

Abstract Background and Objectives When a haematopoietic stem cell registry size is constrained by limits on recruiting, as in Canada, identifying the right person to recruit critical determinant of effectiveness. The aim this study was evaluate impact changes donor recruitment effort, within ethnic groups, matching effectiveness Canadian it evolves over time. Materials Methods Simulation methods are applied create cohort recruits patients 10‐year time horizon. New added each year, while...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact on customer service amalgamating two production/distribution facilities in a blood distribution network, located Maritime region Canada, into single production facility and satellite facility. Design/methodology/approach Simulation models existing network future were built. Experiments conducted, using models, compare performance each. Findings Results indicate that there no evidence suggest decrease resulting from consolidation...

An important goal for blood agencies, especially in the context of aging populations, is to ensure sufficiency supply. Of eligible population, only a small proportion donates. A question therefore how expand donor base. Previous research has shown that accessibility clinics positively associates with turnout. Since depends on allocation resources clinic sites it provides policy handle facilitate participation. Generation and examination landscapes can be part strategy increase The uses...