Multi- objective optimization of scheduling surgeries at surgery room with medical priorities in surgery (Case study: Zahedan Al-Zahra eye Hospital)

Background: According to the importance of health and treatment, it is necessary to use suitable models for planning and setting surgery time. In this study, a mathematical model is offered for operational scheduling of surgeries at surgery rooms of hospitals.   Material and Methods: This is an applied study and its data is related to the surgery rooms of Zahedan Al-Zahra eye hospital. Study population was the surgeries performed in March 2016. The mathematical model of scheduling surgeries at the surgery room was optimized in MATLAB2014.   Results: Due to limitations on patient admission capacity in hospital surgery ward, 79 surgeries were called off. In the proposed model, the total waiting time index for performing surgeries was 1547.29, and this index was found to be 1842 without the use of the model. Therefore, the waiting time index was improved by 16%. In accordance with the third purpose (objective) function, the tally of delays for predicted surgery ending time in one month was estimated to be 69.15 hours. The process of each surgery includes four defined activities. The end time of the activities related to each surgery has been examined and it has been optimized according to the existing limitations.   Conclusion: The proposed model can improve the waiting time by 16% and makes it possible to choose the surgical procedures that should be canceled and delayed according to medical priorities.