A scheduling optimization approach to reduce outpatient waiting times for specialists

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Long waiting times for outpatient care remain a global challenge for public health systems. In Portugal, the National Health Service (NHS) ensures universal access to medical treatment, aiming to promote equity in healthcare. However, persistent delays in outpatient speciality appointments hinder this objective. Methods: This study proposes a prioritization-scheduling approach that integrates a mathematical model with a heuristic method to enhance accessibility in NHS hospitals. By optimizing the available capacity of hospitals within each geographic area, the model efficiently sequences patient appointments across different facilities, prioritizing those who have waited the longest. The approach was tested using simulated instances based on real NHS hospital data. Results: Results indicate that the model effectively integrates hospital resources within a region and efficiently allocates specialist appointments, significantly reducing waiting times. Conclusions: This research introduces a promising strategy that, when incorporated into a decision support system, can serve as a valuable tool for healthcare management.