Bozer Yavuz A, Eamrungroj Chate
Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Health Syst (Basingstoke). 2018 Nov 2;9(3):226-252. doi: 10.1080/20476965.2018.1534037.
We study the intra-facility patient movement problem in large, multi-floor hospitals, where many patients are moved each year by patient movers using wheelchairs or gurneys. Using a simulation model, and the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) hospital as the problem setting, we compare alternative rules for dispatching the patient movers via a centralised, computer-controlled system. Included in the comparison is the rule used currently at the hospital as well as new alternative dispatching rules we develop for the study. Our results suggest that significant improvements in system performance can be obtained by using better dispatching rules that consider not only the proximity of the patient mover to the patient pick-up point but also the type of equipment needed (wheelchair versus gurney) and the location of the equipment marshalling areas, which also play a key role. In conjunction with the dispatching rules, we investigate the number and location of the marshalling areas, and show empirically that carefully locating them based on usage improves the system performance as much as, if not more than, a more efficient dispatching rule. Although the UMHS hospital serves as the problem setting, our study would apply to most hospitals with dedicated patient movers and centralised dispatching.
我们研究大型多层医院内的患者转运问题，每年有许多患者由使用轮椅或担架的搬运人员进行转运。以密歇根大学医疗系统（UMHS）医院为研究对象，使用仿真模型，我们比较了通过集中式计算机控制系统调度搬运人员的不同规则。比较内容包括医院目前使用的规则以及我们为该研究制定的新的替代调度规则。我们的结果表明，通过使用更好的调度规则可以显著提高系统性能，这些规则不仅要考虑搬运人员到患者接送点的距离，还要考虑所需设备的类型（轮椅与担架）以及设备整理区的位置，这些因素也起着关键作用。结合调度规则，我们研究了整理区的数量和位置，并通过实证表明，根据使用情况精心定位整理区对系统性能的提升效果与更高效的调度规则相当，甚至可能更好。尽管UMHS医院是研究对象，但我们的研究适用于大多数有专门患者搬运人员和集中调度的医院。
