Operations Research, Data Analytics and Logistics (ORDAL)
47
s. 200510-200510
Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ordal.2026.200510
Every year, tens of thousands of patients die world-wide because of infections associated with the health system. One source of hospital-acquired infections which reportedly have reached prevalence levels of 7%–10%, are poor hygiene measures. These can be addressed, among others, by a reliable hospital cleaning workforce, responsive to hospital requirements and safety standards. In this paper, we address the problem of hospital-wide scheduling of cleaners handling routine and ad-hoc cleaning demand. Demand which can be subject to variation in arrivals and duration accrues in locations such as emergency departments, operating theatres, and wards. On the supply-side, cleaners have different working regulations which means that breaks and a maximum work duration must be considered. To model the problem, we develop a hybrid simulation model which captures these features and enables us to evaluate the current workforce schedule from a collaborating European hospital using a variety of performance metrics and levels of detail. Using a mixed-integer linear programming approach, we generate alternative schedules that indicate substantial improvements as compared to current planning. This provides a more reliable and safer environment for patients and staff.
