Analytics for Hospital Resource Planning—Two Case Studies
Abstract
Using real data and process flows from two large hospitals (in Singapore and in Chengdu, China) as cases, we illustrate how to apply certain modeling and optimization techniques, along with simulation as a validation tool, to hospital resource planning problems. We demonstrate how these simple analytical tools can help achieve significant improvements in both patient service and resource utilization, and without the need to increase the overall level of existing capacities. Two resource planning problems are studied in detail, one concerns the rebalancing of bed capacities among various wards, and the other addresses the allocation of medical diagnostic resource among different types of patients.
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The capacity of diagnostic tools is underutilized during low demand, while in busy periods, non-emergency patients often experience delays.
“The capacity is underutilized during low demand, while in busy periods, non-emergency patients often experience delays [290].”
From Toward Safer Diagnoses: A SEIPS-Based Narrative Review of Diagnostic Errors (2026) · cites this paper as [290]
The allocation of diagnostic tools such as CT and MRI frequently faces obstacles due to inflexible scheduling slots.
“The allocation of diagnostic tools such as CT and MRI frequently faces obstacles due to inflexible scheduling slots.”
From Toward Safer Diagnoses: A SEIPS-Based Narrative Review of Diagnostic Errors (2026) · cites this paper as [290]
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- Authors
- Xie, J., Zhuang, W., Ang, M., Chou, M. C., Luo, L., & Yao, D. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Science and Technology of China (CN)
- Xiamen University (CN)
- Singapore Management University (SG)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Sichuan University (CN)
- Columbia University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Xie, Jingui
- Zhuang, Weifen
- Ang, Marcus
- Chou, Mabel C.
- Luo, Li
- Yao, David D.
- Venue
- Production and Operations Management
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2021-06
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1863-1885
- ISSN
- 1059-1478 (ISSN-L)
- 1937-5956
- OpenAlex
- W3000693148
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 2 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 2.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Production and Operations Management (publishedVersion)
- Singapore Management University Institutional Knowledge (InK) (Singapore Management University) (submittedVersion)
- mediaTUM – the media and publications repository of the Technical University Munich (Technical University Munich) (submittedVersion)
- mediaTUM (Technical University of Munich) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (71571176, 71672160, 71201140, 71432004, 71532007, 71131006, 71172197)
- Hong Kong Research Grants Council (T32‐102/14N)
- National University of Singapore Academic Research Fund (R‐314‐000‐082‐112)
- National University of Singapore Medicine‐Business Seed Grant (C‐311‐004‐003‐001)
- Ministry of Health Singapore (HSRG/0002/2010)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Healthcare Operations and Scheduling Optimization
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Health Information Management › Healthcare Quality and Management
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Facility Location and Emergency Management
- Keywords
- hospital resource planning, hospital capacity utilization, patient service, hospital operations management, simulation validation, optimization modeling
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