CEGI - Indexed Articles in Journals

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Browsing CEGI - Indexed Articles in Journals by Author "Adélio Mendes"
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    An optimization based on simulation approach to the patient admission scheduling problem using a linear programing algorithm
    ( 2014) Granja,C ; Bernardo Almada-Lobo ; Janela,F ; Seabra,J ; Adélio Mendes
    Background: As patient's length of stay in waiting lists increases, governments are looking for strategies to control the problem. Agreements were created with private providers to diminish the workload in the public sector. However, the growth of the private sector is not following the demand for care. Given this context, new management strategies have to be considered in order to minimize patient length of stay in waiting lists while reducing the costs and increasing (or at least maintaining) the quality of care. Method: Appointment scheduling systems are today known to be proficient in the optimization of health care services. Their utilization is focused on increasing the usage of human resources, medical equipment and reducing the patient waiting times. In this paper, a simulation-based optimization approach to the Patient Admission Scheduling Problem is presented. Modeling tools and simulation techniques are used in the optimization of a diagnostic imaging department. Results: The proposed techniques have demonstrated to be effective in the evaluation of diagnostic imaging workflows. A simulated annealing algorithm was used to optimize the patient admission sequence towards minimizing the total completion and total waiting of patients. The obtained results showed average reductions of 5% on the total completion and 38% on the patients' total waiting time.
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    An Optimization based on Simulation Approach to the Patient Admission Scheduling Problem: Diagnostic Imaging Department Case Study
    ( 2014) Granja,C ; Bernardo Almada-Lobo ; Janela,F ; Seabra,J ; Adélio Mendes
    The growing influx of patients in healthcare providers is the result of an aging population and emerging self-consciousness about health. In order to guarantee the welfare of all the healthcare stakeholders, it is mandatory to implement methodologies that optimize the healthcare providers' efficiency while increasing patient throughput and reducing patient's total waiting time. This paper presents a case study of a conventional radiology workflow analysis in a Portuguese healthcare provider. Modeling tools were applied to define the existing workflow. Re-engineered workflows were analyzed using the developed simulation tool. The integration of modeling and simulation tools allowed the identification of system bottlenecks. The new workflow of an imaging department entails a reduction of 41 % of the total completion time.