How to Apply a Metaheuristic Algorithm to Physician Scheduling Problem
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Abstract
Hospitals spend a considerable percentage of their budget on medical personnel. However, proper physician scheduling helps to lower this cost. The emergency department is an area where physicians are available 24/7, so keeping the physicians satisfied is important. According to the scheduler specialist, creating a physician schedule takes a long time. It does not provide physicians with satisfaction and equality in terms of working hours, number of night shifts, and number of days off. This paper uses Random Search Optimization (RSO) to generate physician schedules and guidelines by applying metaheuristics to the physician scheduling problem. The goal is to reduce all overtime work to a minimum. We compared the performance of RSO with mathematical model and manual method. The results showed that RSO reduced total overtime by 50%, distributed the burden effectively, and had a procedure time of less than 12 seconds
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