Outpatient clinic scheduling with limited waiting area capacity

This paper proposes an iterative simulation optimisation approach to maximise the number of in-person consultations in blueprint schedule a clinic facing same-day multi-appointment patient trajectories and restrictions on patients simultaneously allowed waiting area, taking into account combined effects early arrival times (patients arriving from home), bridging (minimum time required between appointments) (due randomness arrivals provider punctuality). Our combines Integer Linear Program (ILP) that maximises considering effect average Monte Carlo (MCS) model include due randomness. We iteratively adapt our parameters ILP until MCS returns 95% confidence interval area does not exceed its capacity. results reveal impact arrival, appointments may be included schedule. further show careful design allows case study clinics organise vast majority their in-person.