Abstract

Due to changing patient loads and demand patterns over time, assigning bed complements for various medical services in a hospital is a recurring problem facing the administrators. We present a goal programming approach for reallocating beds to wards. In this study, important constraints of beds allocation were identified through the review of literature and interview with experts and objective function were determined based on constraints. Finally, the presented model was solved by GAMS Software. The important constraints included the total number of beds, nursing work hours, waiting time, the definite bed allocation to patient, the definite bed allocation to ward. The main goals were distinguished: maximum the use of human resources, minimizing the number of empty beds, reducing the waiting time, definite bed allocation to patient and definite bed allocation to ward then the model solved based on the MIP solver in GAMS. The results related that goal programming model was presented suitable framework for bed reallocation and optimum use. © IDOSI Publications, 2013.