A goal programming approach based on simulation and optimization to serve patients in an external orthopedic department

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper studies the problem of long waiting times for patients in the external department of orthopaedic surgery of Habib Bourguiba Hospital in Sfax, Tunisia. Three types of patients are treated and classified into two categories: those requiring only one treatment and those needing to consult doctors twice. In this paper, we aim to incorporate the priority-queue discipline for the first and second consultation, using simulation-optimisation and goal programming approach for the purpose of maximising patient satisfaction and reducing their waiting time. Our approach allows reducing average waiting time by 35% and increasing patient satisfaction by 30%.