ORAHS2024
Abstract Submission

188. Operating room scheduling with balanced sterilization activities

Contributed abstract in session TA-5: Operating Room Scheduling /1, stream Regular talks.

Tuesday, 9:00-10:30
Room: Room S6

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Dariush Zahmatkesh
GSCOP lab, INP, University Grenoble Alpes
2. Maria Di-Mascolo
GSCOP lab, INP, University Grenoble Alpes
3. Aida Jebali
SKEMA Centre for Analytics and Management Science, SKEMA Business School

Abstract


Every year, millions of surgeries are performed worldwide, generating a large portion of hospital revenues. Improving surgical efficiency, such as by adding one more surgery per room daily, could therefore significantly boost hospital income. A crucial aspect of Operating Room (OR) efficiency is tied to managing the sterilization of Reusable Medical Devices (RMDs) to prevent delays and so cut surgery costs. Despite its importance in OR scheduling, integrating sterilization remains largely unexplored. This study seeks to show how OR scheduling can streamline sterilization, reducing surgery delays caused by unavailable RMDs. Beyond financial gains, this scheduling will enhance patient and staff satisfaction. We propose a mathematical model to minimize RMD volume variability sent from ORs to the Sterilization Unit (SU). Our model employs optimization techniques to cut OR costs and balance SU activity. Simulation compares current scheduling practices with our proposed model, aimed at improving sterilization and OR performance. A smoother RMD flow to the SU should enhance sterilization and OR efficiency, as reduced SU flow times increase RMD availability for reuse.
Keywords: Surgery Scheduling, Sterilization, RMDs, Mathematical Programming, Optimization, Simulation.

Keywords

Status: accepted


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