A simulation-ILP based tool for scheduling ER staff

Healthcare facilities, especially hospitals, are under financial pressure to control cost. One element that affects cost significantly is staff. We have developed a tool that integrates a simulation model and an integer linear program (ILP). The simulation model establishes the staffing requirements for each period, and the ILP produces an optimal calendar schedule for the staff, i.e. how many staff members to start at each shift. The two models were fully integrated, under a Visual Basic interface that allowed a non expert user of the heuristic to interact with it on a repetitive planning basis.