Balanced Assignment of Patients to Healthcare Centers Using Dispatching Rules

Abstract Background: In the realm of public health management, ensuring a balanced assignment of patients to healthcare centers is a critical concern. This study introduces a novel approach for this purpose, utilizing dispatching rules. Highlighting the need for an easily applicable approach to regulating patient flow efficiently, the study shows the benefit of utilizing dispatching rules in healthcare management. Methods: Innovatively, this research departs from traditional approaches by introducing a multi-objective model grounded in the concept of sectorization. This model, unique in the public health literature, leverages dispatching rules to simplify complex, dynamic patient assignment scenarios. The model is simulated using Rockwell Arena software, incorporating various temporal factors. The optimization of these dispatching rules is performed through OptQuest software. Results: The study's findings demonstrate that the optimized dispatching rule significantly enhances the model's efficacy in balancing patient assignments across healthcare centers. This improvement is pivotal in addressing the uneven distribution of healthcare resources. Conclusions: This research makes a substantial contribution to the public health literature by offering a novel and practical solution for balancing patient load among healthcare centers. Its successful application in simulated environments suggests a promising pathway for real-world implementations, potentially leading to more efficient healthcare systems and improved patient care outcomes.