Optimized staff allocation for inpatient phlebotomy and electrocardiography services via mathematical modelling in an acute regional and teaching hospital

Kenneth C M Yip, Kevin W H Huang, Esther W Y Ho, W K Chan and Irene L Y Lee

Health Systems, 2017, vol. 6, issue 2, 102-111

Abstract: Adhering to pre-defined service routes that cover a fixed set of wards in a shift, the inpatient phlebotomy service provides 24-hour coverage for a 27-storey, 1,400-bed hospital. We present an application of mathematical optimization to improve its service efficiency without injecting additional resources. A mixed integer programming model was implemented to revamp the service route configuration to minimize workload discrepancies among service routes, limit maximum daily workload per route and restrict routes to span a maximum number of floor levels, while taking into consideration the ward-specific demand for each duty (i.e. daytime, evening, and night time) throughout the day. This data-driven and evidence-based approach has facilitated an overhaul of the existing route configuration of the inpatient phlebotomy service, which resulted in a more effective and contented workforce, as well as a more efficient service with an evened-out workload among phlebotomists and increased time spent on direct patient care by phlebotomists. Subsequent scenario analysis revealed that more manpower on a micro-level is not necessarily better and highlighted the importance to strategically design duty hours and allocate manpower across different duties on a system level.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1057/s41306-016-0001-8

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